World Day for Safety and Health at Work

World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day (World Day) are recognised internationally on Friday, 28 April.

Workers’ Memorial Day has been organised worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996. Its purpose is to honour the memory of victims of occupational accidents and diseases, and organise worldwide awareness campaigns on this date.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has observed the World Day on Safety and Health at Work to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally since 2003. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health and on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities worldwide.

Safe Work Australia recognises 28 April as a day when we honour those who have died at work and think about how our actions can prevent future work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses.

Australia’s work-related fatality rates have been steadily trending downwards, but preliminary figures indicate that 178 workers still lost their lives in 2016.

Safe Work Australia is encouraging everyone to think about how they can take the lead in work health and safety. By raising awareness and taking the lead in work health and safety, we can help prevent further injuries and death.

How to get involved

On 28 April, SWA recommends you can take the lead in workplace health and safety by:

• practising good work health and safety;
• honouring the memory of those who have died at work and stopping for a moment of silence;
• promoting World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day in your workplace:
  • organise a morning or afternoon tea to talk about work health and safety,
  • display promotional posters in your workplace,
  • screen a seminar from the Virtual Seminar Series at your workplace,
  • arrange for a safety expert to speak at your workplace,
  • attend a local workers’ memorial event with your colleagues or family.

You can also use #worldWHSday2017 when participating in World Day discussions on social media.

For further information about World Day, visit the SWA website.

Details for local workers’ memorial events are available on the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) website or your local state or territory regulator websites.