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Given the emphasis placed on health and safety issues in our modern world, it could reasonably be expected that the number of fatal accidents in the workplace would be reducing steadily. Unfortunately, though, the trend seems to be in the opposite direction.

According to Bill Adams of the Yorkshire Trades Union Council, despite legislation designed to protect employees, the number of work-related deaths is actually increasing. He blames it on inadequate penalties, which fail to deter some companies and managers from disregarding the rules.

The scale of the problem is massive. Bradford Area Occupational Health and Safety Forum estimates that between 1,600 and 1,700 people died in incidents at work in the UK last year, and a further 50,000 died due to a work-related illness.

Although health and safety regulations seems to have an impact on so many aspects of everyday life, including, it would seem, the staging of St George's Day parades, they appear to be not as effective as they should be when it comes to protecting people at work.

Clearly it's time to reinforce the message. International Workers' Memorial Day, which is to be marked in Bradford at noon on Monday with a service outside City Hall, should serve a dual purpose. It will be a time for us all, and particularly for their families, to remember and honour those people who have died as a result of industrial injuries.

And it will be a reminder to irresponsible employers to take their duty of care to their workforce seriously and do what they can to reduce this terrible toll.

8:36am Friday 25th April 2008

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