International Workers' Memorial Day in Alloa, Clackmannanshire

Dozens of people came together for the annual International Workers' Memorial Day at the memorial stone in front of Clackmannanshire Council's Kilncraigs HQ to mark the day with speeches, laying wreaths and holding a minute's silence.

This was the 10th year Clackmannanshire's trade unions have held an event; speakers today included Louise Taggart from campaign group Families Against Corporate Killers, provost Tina Murphy, council chief executive officer Elaine McPherson, candidate Keith Brown and more.

The crowd heard how world-wide, a worker dies every 15 seconds and 6000 employees are killed each day with more people dying whilst at work than whilst fighting in wars. The event also commemorates those who suffered life-changing injuries while on the job.

This year's theme was “Strong Laws – Strong Enforcement – Strong Unions” and Andy Kane, chair of the Joint Trade Union Committee at the council, told the Advertiser: “Today is a day all about remembering our colleagues who gave so much and went to work on a daily basis [until one day they did] not go back to their loved ones and their family.

“We have got to remember these people, they will always live on and we all fight, in the trade union movement, for better [conditions], always to take away the risks and hazards from the workplace and make sure that safe working practices are adhered to at all times.”

Louise Taggart, whose 26-year-old brother Michael Adamson was killed at work in 2005, told the Advertiser: “I got involved with the campaign group Families Against Corporate Killers about a year after Michael was killed and I also work now for Scottish Hazards, which is a charity that launched a health and safety advice centre for workers.

“[Today] is about focusing people's minds, making them aware of the reality of work-related deaths and realising that if we work collectively then we can do something about it.

“Employers need to realise that they need to put their people first, that they need to send their workers home to their families safe every day because you can't put a cost on what it is to lose somebody at work.”

Provost Tina Murphy added: “I think everything has been very meaningful and poignant that's been said by the various speakers this morning.”

She added that with so many deaths still occurring throughout the world: “We must be extremely vigilant in ensuring that our workers are safe as they go about their duties.”

In his speech, Mr Brown said it is also important to celebrate the work that has been done to reduce the number of deaths at the workplace, especially by trade unions and individuals, but said things are by no means perfect.

He also spoke about the practice of blacklisting by employers, which was also mentioned by a previous speaker, and said he was proud the Scottish Government has brought forward regulations to tackle the practice by excluding firms from bidding for public contracts.