Health, Safety and Environment

Government Response to Petition Asking for Official Recognition of Workers' Memorial Day

1 April 2008

In April 2007, An e-petition asking the UK government to give official recognition to 28 April, Workers' Memorial Day, was logged on the e-petitions section of the Prime Minister's 10 Downing Street web site.

The petition was initiated by Dorothy Wright, a founder member of Families Against Corporate Killers.

The Petition read:

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Declare International Workers Memorial Day on 28th April a National day of mourning."

Nearly 1500 people signed the petition and the Government issued the following response:

"The Government supports the aims of International Workers' Memorial Day. It is important that we remember those who have needlessly died, been injured or made ill by work. As suggested, the opportunity to reflect can help strengthen our resolve to reduce risks and protect people from injury in the workplace.

International Workers' Memorial Day plays a part in raising awareness of workplace health and safety. However, it is important to focus on the successes of sensible health and safety management in protecting people at work. This should be something we do all year round.

The Government plays its part through the delivery of the Health and Safety Commission's "Strategy for workplace health and safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond." We want to ensure that health and safety becomes seen as a cornerstone of a civilised society.

Although there are no plans for the Government to declare International Workers' Memorial Day as a national day of mourning, we encourage the trade union movement to continue to raise public awareness of the day and so give it the recognition in the public consciousness that it deserves. Lord McKenzie, the Health and Safety Minister marked this year's International Workers' Memorial Day by attending a ceremony to mark the tragic death of two local people, killed when a crane collapsed in Battersea.

The Health and Safety Executive have also supported the day, and this year marked it by planting a tree in memory of those who have lost their lives or been injured at work.

I hope that I have reassured you that the Government supports the aims of International Workers' Memorial Day and takes the issue of workplace health and safety seriously."