I marked Workers’ Memorial Day by attending a remembrance service in Hartlepool today. Among the speakers was the father of a young worker who was killed when a machine that he was working on toppled over and crushed him – he was only 19. This story moved everyone who attended and reveals what motivates trade unionists around the world each year as we remember the dead and pledge to fight for the living.

The story of this young man’s death is not unique. At least five 19 year olds have been killed each year for the past decade in the UK. Tory peer David Young, who was appointed to review health and safety regulation just after the coalition came to power, said ‘People occasionally get killed. It’s unfortunate, but it’s part of life.’

We should never accept a worker’s death as ‘just part of life’ and families who have lost loved ones should not be told that something so tragic is ‘unfortunate’.

Young’s remark revealed the underlying attitude of this government to workplace laws that are there to make sure that people always come home from work healthy and safe. The idea that there should be a bonfire of red tape so businesses would be unburdened from health and safety laws is one that will only serve to increase the risks that workers face. Coupled with cuts to enforcement and regulation of health and safety, this will only lead to more death, injury and misery.

There is practical action that we can take that is both industrial and political. Community works in partnership with many good employers who rightly make the health and safety of their workforce a priority. Even then, constant vigilance is required on the part of trade unions, health and safety reps and management.

But there are too many bad employers out there, whose only concern is profit, not the safety of their employees. Trade unions will continue to organise within these companies, take them on and expose these employers. But what is also needed are clear laws and rigorous enforcement to hold these companies to account, to protect their employees and to discourage others from showing scant regard for health and safety. That’s why the political decisions about health and safety at work are so important and it’s down to us as trade unionists and Labour party members to explain to people that participating in elections is an important way to make our voices heard about creating safer workplaces.

With less than a month to go until the European parliament elections on 22 May we can see a clear choice when considering how our votes could make sure workers are safer. On the one hand you have the Tories or Ukip who want to reduce workers’ rights and cut back on health and safety regulation; on the other you have Labour, who recognise that a social Europe should help to make workplaces safer. A simple choice, and ultimately a safer choice. Let’s win for Labour on 22 May and let’s take our fight for the living to the ballot box.

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Roy Rickhuss is general secretary of Community the union

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