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13 March, 2000Reacting to the coal mine disaster in Ukraine, the IMF says trade unions must ensure priority is given to occupational health and safety.
UKRAINE: The International Metalworkers' Federation has written to its three affiliates in Ukraine to express the IMF's shock and deep sorrow upon hearing of the tragic accident at the Barakova coal mine in the Lugansk region of eastern Ukraine. Of the almost 300 coalminers who were working at a depth of 664 meters at the time of the gas explosion, 80 were killed and seven were seriously injured.
In his letter of condolence to the Automobile and Agricultural Machinery Workers' Union, the Central Committee of Ukrainian Radio-Electronic Workers' Trade Unions, and the Central Council of Trade Unions of Defence Industry Workers, the IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, said that "we can and should do everything in our power to prevent any repeat of such wanton waste of life. There is no possible reason why workplaces cannot be made safe, and we in the trade union movement have a duty to ensure employers and governments give occupational health and safety the priority it deserves."
Although this was the worst mine disaster in Ukraine since the country became independent, a BBC news report says that some 300 miners die every year in work-related accidents -- the highest mine death-rate in the world -- due to "almost non-existent investment, poor maintenance and falling safety standards."
In his letter of condolence to the Automobile and Agricultural Machinery Workers' Union, the Central Committee of Ukrainian Radio-Electronic Workers' Trade Unions, and the Central Council of Trade Unions of Defence Industry Workers, the IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, said that "we can and should do everything in our power to prevent any repeat of such wanton waste of life. There is no possible reason why workplaces cannot be made safe, and we in the trade union movement have a duty to ensure employers and governments give occupational health and safety the priority it deserves."
Although this was the worst mine disaster in Ukraine since the country became independent, a BBC news report says that some 300 miners die every year in work-related accidents -- the highest mine death-rate in the world -- due to "almost non-existent investment, poor maintenance and falling safety standards."