CWU Welcomes "Workers Memorial Day" Debate in the Scottish Parliament
With 31 people dying at work in Scotland last year (2006/07) and nearly 200,000 people suffering from an illness they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work, the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department welcomed the Member’s Debate which took place in the Scottish Parliament on 1st May when a Motion entitled "Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living" submitted by Labour MSP was debated and unanimously supported by Labour and SNP Members present.
Key HSE Statistics for 2006/07 in Scotland are:
Ill health
- 199,000 people were suffering from an illness they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work.
- 60 000 of these were new cases in the last 12 months.
- 176 people died of mesothelioma (2005), and many more from other occupational cancers and lung diseases.
Injuries
- 31 workers were killed at work.
- 12,026 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR.
Working days lost
- 4.3 million days were lost overall (2.1 days per worker), 3.7 million due to work-related ill health and 0.6 million due to workplace injury.
Enforcement
- In Scotland, prosecutions are brought by Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), who make the final decision on prosecution.
- In 2006/07, 91 offences reported by all Directorates (excluding Railways) in Scotland, were prosecuted, 60 of which led to a conviction.
- The average fine per conviction was £27,268, a fall on the previous year (£249,418, which included a fine of £15 million).
- Nine offences reported by local authorities were prosecuted in 2005/06, all of which led to a conviction. The average fine per conviction was £107,289, an increase on the previous year (£1,285).
Motion debated—[Elaine Smith MSP Labour (Coatbridge and Chryston)].
That the Parliament recognises the importance of International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) held on 28 April each year; considers that the official slogan "remember the dead, fight for the living" is particularly apposite and helps to ensure that all those who have died as a result of work are not forgotten whilst at the same time encourages renewed efforts to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated; welcomes events around Scotland to commemorate this important day and, in particular, the unveiling of the North Lanarkshire Workers Memorial at Summerlee Heritage Park in Coatbridge; encourages relevant authorities to fly official flags on public buildings at half mast; hopes that all workplaces will observe a one-minute silence at 12 noon on 28 April 2008; commends the STUC and the trade unions for their work in building trade union organisation and campaigning for stricter enforcement with higher penalties for breaches of health and safety laws to help in the struggle for safer workplaces, and supports the call for recognition of IWMD as a national day of remembrance for those who have been killed, injured, or made ill by their work.
Opening the debate Elaine Smith MSP Labour (Coatbridge and Chryston) stressed the importance of the Scottish Parliament recognising International workers memorial day and called for the formal recognition of Workers Memorial Day.
She said, "Formal recognition of international workers memorial day ought to be implemented to act as a constant reminder of the annual toll of workplace deaths and an impetus to take action. I look forward to a response from the minister about a meeting to discuss that subject. We must all continue to fight in the hope that people who sell their labour can do so with the full protection of the industries and organisations that profit from their toil. I join in solidarity with all members who are present to remember the dead and to fight for the living."
Responding to the debate for the Scottish Government the Minister for Public Health (Shona Robison) said in respect of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act:
"We will consider what has to happen beyond the existing legislation if it is found to be wanting". She went on to add "It's important to focus on the action that we take to improve health and safety in the workplace and that should be our focus." "I am delighted that a range of WMD events took place throughout Scotland during the past week to commemorate those who have died as a result of accidents at work and the best way for the Scottish Government to commemorate those who have died at work is to continue to show its commitment to improving occupational health and safety. I am pleased to do that on behalf of the Scottish Government this evening."
Source: CWU LTB410/08 / Scottish Parliament website
