Construction workers killed in the City of London - introduction

Workers Memorial Day is now a global event held every year on the 28^th April. The slogan for the day is "Remember the dead and fight for the living". This site is to remember those construction workers killed in the City of London between 1988 and the present day and to recognise there is still a great deal that needs to be done to end this needless slaughter.

Every year approximately 22 people lose their lives at work in London in what are mostly predictable and preventable incidents. The numbers disabled, injured and made unwell at work runs into many thousands. Yet there is little recognition of this, apart from the pain felt by the families and friends of those killed. There are few memorials to the deceased.

This site is meant to respectfully go some way to remember some of those killed by taking one small area of London and one of its most dangerous industries - construction. The London Hazards Centre wants there to be a memorial at the site wherever someone is killed at work, to recognise the price some have paid to earn a living.

Government statistics say that almost three-quarters of accidents at work are directly the responsibility of employers. Yet in 2002 the average fine for a health and safety offence was 12,194 while the average salary of the UK's top 100 bosses was 1.5 million. No employer in London has ever been sent to prison for negligence leading to the death of a worker. The number of safety inspectors is so few that some estimate that each workplace can expect to see the inspectors once every 15-20 years - if ever.

It is clear that the environment must change radically and urgently if prevention of death, disability, injury and illness is to be achieved.

Using the site

Sadly, and frustratingly, not all those construction workers killed in the City in the period are on this site at the launch, just those that it has been possible to find information on. Finding information on those killed is almost impossible. The Health and Safety Executive say they are under legal constraints which restrict the information they can give to us to that which is next to useless and despite starting this project over six months ago it has been near impossible to gather information. BUT information will be forthcoming from the Coroners Office in the City over the next few months and it will be added to what information is already here.

The information can be viewed by the name of the deceased, by date of incident and by employers and other companies involved.

The information is accurate according to our records and we apologise for any errors, which we are willing to correct.

Further information about Workers Memorial Day

London Hazards Centre www.lhc.org.uk/members/pubs/factsht/68fact.htm

Hazards magazine www.hazards.org/wmd/index.htm

Hazards Campaign www.hazardscampaign.org.uk

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