Many health professionals have serious concerns about the lack, or inadequacy, of PPE and other safety provisions in their workplace. As well as showing respect for those who have died, the occasion provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the environment in which pharmacists and other health workers practice during this crisis period.
Every year on April 28th, all around the globe the trade union movement unites to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day (#IWMD20). We remember those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injury and diseases. We renew our efforts to organise collectively to prevent more deaths, injuries and disease as a result of work.
Picture from a previous IWMD event in Milton Keynes
Workers Memorial Day is commemorated throughout the world and is officially recognised by the UK Government. This year the memorial day will be particularly relevant to the health sector as we have already seen so many deaths among those who are caring for patients with the virus.
Safety at work is always important and every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don’t die of mystery ailments, or in tragic “accidents”. They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn’t that important a priority. International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) commemorates those workers and is another reminder to employers that they need to honour their responsibility for workers health and safety at work every day.
The purple ribbon is the emblem of International Workers Memorial Day. Read more about IWMD.