Safety prevention was the focal point at this year’s International Workers Memorial Day held at the Morwell Centenary Rose Garden on Friday morning.
Organised by the Asbestos Council of Victoria and Gippsland Trades and Labour Council, those in attendance heard from a range of guest speakers about the importance of speaking out when feeling unsafe in the workplace.
Worksafe Victoria Health and Safety acting chief executive Paul Fowler, who spoke at the event, told The Express everyone had a role to play in reducing injury and death in the workplace.
Nine people across Victoria have so far lost their lives in workplace incidents this year.
“I get notified every time someone dies in a workplace situation. Our emergency response people respond and then we get an idea of what’s involved, make inquiries and an investigation will take place,” Mr Fowler said.
“The most recent was a 20-year-old young man up in Mildura involving a tractor attachment, that happened about three weeks ago and it’s been a tragic situation for his family.
“It’s awful, I’ve been involved in a number of workplace injuries and fatalities in different capacities and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone … it’s an awful experience.”
The crowd was welcomed by bagpiper Dick Henry from Walhalla and Takin’ Time – a Gippsland-based three-piece band – featuring Phil Edwards, Susan Parrish and Joe Omar.
City Builders Church pastor Simon Fink spoke about the importance of remembering those who died, while Gippsland Trades and Labour Council secretary Steve Dodd spoke of his experiences with unsafe workplaces.
Asbestos Council of Victoria/GARDS chief executive Vicki Hamilton said it was important to celebrate those who “paid the ultimate sacrifice for their workplace”.
“That’s something they shouldn’t have to do,” Ms Hamilton said.
“I want to see the community safe. When they go to work they should come home safe to their families at a night time.”
Ms Hamilton said in the 17 years the event had been running, a tightening of workplace safety laws had occurred but acknowledged more needed to be done to hold employers accountable.
“Laws still aren’t stringent enough around workplace death, someone needs to be responsible and that’s probably the thing I’ve seen change over the years since starting this ceremony,” she said.
“Yes – laws have tightened but we need to hold people accountable when something is killed in a workplace-related death.”
Following the ceremony, attendees enjoyed a community barbecue cooked by members from the GTLC.
