Released 25/07/2017
Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations Mick Gentleman today joined workers, families, union members and business representatives in the ACT in commemorating workers who have lost their lives as the result of workplace-related accidents, incidents and diseases.
In his address at the annual International Workers’ Memorial Day event, Minister Gentleman paid tribute to the 46 workers nationwide who died in the course of their work in the past year. He also recognised the contribution of Australian workers to building the nation.
“This year’s Workers’ Memorial Day slogan is ‘Remember the dead – Fight for the living’ and this reflects our need as a community to not only remember those who have passed, but also to reflect on the Australian community’s evolving values, ideas and aspirations for workplace health and safety,” Minister Gentleman said.
The annual commemoration, organised by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and UnionsACT, is one of many ceremonies held around the country and the world to recognise the tragedy of workplace accidents and deaths, the vast majority of which are preventable.
Minister Gentleman outlined the Government’s commitment to workplace safety in the Territory. In 2012, the ACT Government commissioned an inquiry into workplace health and safety in the ACT’s construction industry, which led to the implementation of 28 recommendations to remedy the industry’s safety issues.
“I am proud to announce that, since the commissioning of the Getting Home Safely Report, there have been no fatalities in the ACT Construction Industry,” Minister Gentleman said.
“The ACT Government is committed to working with the Federal Government to implement the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy. And this result encourages me that the message about safer workplaces and practices is getting out there.” In its handling of the loose-fill asbestos crisis, the ACT has taken the national lead on asbestos safety by implementing mandatory asbestos awareness training for all workers who may come into contact with asbestos or asbestos containing materials.
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Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases
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