International Workers Memorial Day statement

Joint statement from Shropshire Council and the UNISON, Unite and GMB unions:
 
This Sunday is International Workers Memorial Day, a day which commemorates workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell through their work. The terrible news from Bangladesh this week is yet again evidence of the importance of ensuring that workers are adequately protected and are able to work in a safe environment.
 
Work related deaths and major injuries are not exclusive to developing countries and the latest information available from the Health and Safety Executive tells us that in the first three quarters of the last financial year there were 192 deaths in the United Kingdom.
 
The council and the trade unions representing some of its staff would like to pay tribute to those killed or injured at work, wherever in the world it has happened.  As a mark of respect, to show that we understand how important it is to make sure our staff are kept safe at work, and to encourage people to give a thought to health and safety in their workplaces, we will be flying all Shropshire Council flags at half-mast on Sunday.