Congress General Secretary David Begg is to call for greater support for people who 'speak out' about dangers at work, thereby helping to save lives and prevent injuries through accidents.
At an event to mark Workers Memorial Day (April 28) in the National Gallery of Ireland, Mr Begg will say that speaking out to identify health and safety concerns should be encouraged.
"People at work need to be given the tools and the support to help them identify potential risks to the health and well-being of themselves and their colleagues. Congress is developing those tools and will assist affiliate unions in their distribution and use.
"And when people have been sufficiently empowered to actually speak out, they should be supported and congratulated for doing so. We saw in a recent case where an individual worker blew the whistle on financial wrongdoing at his place of work only to find himself out of job. A Rights Commissioner has now ruled in his favour, but if you were to translate his case into the health and safety arena you could be talking about someone who takes action to save lives.....and then loses his or her job."
"That culture of secrecy will have to be eliminated," Mr Begg said.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions will mark Workers Memorial Day - a day of remembrance for those killed, injured or made unwell by their work - with a special event in the National Gallery of Ireland. The theme for 2012 is Speak Out for Health and Safety and the event will feature contributions from David Begg (ICTU); Martin O'Halloran (Health & Safety Authority); John Devitt (Transparency International) and Michelle Peate-Morgan (Institute of Occupational Health & Safety).
