WORKERS who have lost their lives will be remembered today, for World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day.

Today is a day to focus on taking actions which can prevent future work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, and a day to remember those that have died from a work-related injury or illness.

“Today provides us with the opportunity to reflect on ways we could prevent work-related injury and illness,” Safe Work Australia Chair Ann Sherry AO said.

“Under the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022 governments, unions, industry and business leaders are striving to improve work health and safety and we all have an important role to play.

“I know leaders can have a significant impact on improving work health and safety as well as improving the bottom line. Business leaders routinely manage a range of risks and can prevent injury and illness by actively managing safety risks.

“We need to reduce workers’ exposure to hazards and risks. By using good design principles we can minimise exposure by designing out the risk from the beginning – this is integral to prevention.”

Last year, 185 Australians lost their lives through injury at work.

“The important task for all of us is to work together to prevent further work-related death, injury and illness,” Ms Sherry said.

“So today, I encourage everyone to prevent further tragedy and make work health and safety your focus.”