“One workplace death is one death too many” – DLP Senate Team Leader Tony Zegenhagen
On this International Workers Memorial Day, Queensland DLP Senate team leader Tony Zegenhagen calls on all Australians to resolve to promote workplace safety in every productive environment.
“One workplace death is one death too many,” according to Tony Zegenhagen. As a former RAN submariner, Tony witnessed military workplace accidents including fatal accidents.
“Far too many Australian service personnel have lost their lives, in war and in peace, to workplace accidents. Those casualties still continue with lives unnecessarily shortened from contact with asbestos and from handling fuel, insecticide, herbicide or munitions.”
“International Workers Memorial Day was pioneered by the Canadian Government in 1991,” said Tony Zegenhagen. “This followed a 1984 initiative by the Canadian Union of Public Employees.”
“I commend all the Australian Unions who have contributed to the high priority currently attached to workplace safety, and I commend those people in government and business who have been willing to listen. Workplace deaths and injuries are not confined to employees. Small business owners and their families are similarly at risk, especially in primary industry and transport.”
Mr Zegenhagen points out that In attempting to extinguish workplace accidents, Queenslanders face special challenges because of our emphasis on mining and primary industry, with transportation over very long distances and a multitude of construction projects.
“Most workplaces now have a satisfactory system of recording accidents. The DLP wants all workplaces to go one step further, by recording all near misses. If we can persuade everyone to take careful note of circumstances where it has been necessary to avoid an accident, or where sheer chance has protected a worker from injury, then the number of near misses will inexorably fall. Reducing the number of near misses will automatically reduce the number of accidents.”
“Safety is everybody’s business. Our modern society must aim at being casualty-free.”
