Mourn for the dead, fight like hell for the living
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 131 No 3, 22 May 2026, page no.4
International Workers’ Memorial Day, held every year on 28 April, is a moment for us all to pause and honour the workers who never came home.
Around the world, and here in Queensland, it is a day to remember those who have lost their lives because of workplace injury, illness, or disease. It also aligns with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, reminding us that remembrance and prevention must always go hand in hand.
This day asks us to look beyond the numbers. Every workplace death is one too many, and behind each statistic is a person with a family, colleagues, and a community who carry the weight of that loss long after the headlines fade.
In the past year, Queensland recorded 32 work-related fatalities at a minimum, 23 workers and nine bystanders. These are not just figures; they represent lives cut short and futures taken away. And these numbers don’t reflect the many workers who suffered lifechanging injuries or illnesses and whose lives, and the lives of those around them, have been permanently altered.
These losses highlight why strong safety systems, genuine accountability, and meaningful cultural change are not optional. They are essential.
A day of remembrance, solidarity, and responsibility
Workers’ Memorial Day is a time when union members and communities come together to grieve, to honour, and to stand with the families who have lost loved ones. It is a collective expression of solidarity — a recognition that most workplace incidents are preventable and that no one should be harmed simply for doing their job.
It is also a call to action — a reminder that safer workplaces don’t happen by chance, workers must be empowered to speak up when something feels unsafe, and their voices are vital in preventing harm
.
Workers’ Memorial Day reinforces a simple truth: every worker deserves to go home safe, every day. And until that is a reality for all, we honour the dead by fighting like hell for the living.