A day to remember all who have died at work

It's Workers' Memorial Day today. Never heard of it? Well, if you work for a living you probably should have.

Here's a stat to remember: every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don't die of mystery ailments, or in 'accidents'. They die because, in the words of the TUC, 'an employer decided their safety just wasn't that important a priority'. Workers' Memorial Day commemorates those workers.

From Algeria to Zimbabwe, activity takes place around the world on 28 April - a reminder that this globalised world is also a globalised workplace. The posters on the right are from Japan, Canada and Palestine.

Here in the UK, the TUC has called on UK employers to give better occupational health assistance to the two million employees who every year believe they have become ill as a result of their jobs.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'the UK is currently facing an epidemic of occupational ill health.'

The day is about urging workers to join unions and both employers and employees to follow health and safety procedures. Barber added: 'Workplaces where there are union safety reps tend to be both safer and healthier places.'

Men and Work is also the theme of this year's Men's Health Week in June and - as Workers Memorial Day proves - for a very good reason.

• More from the TUC
• More from Hazards, the independent health and safety magazine

International images from previous years