Unions have stepped up demands for improvements to health and safety amid claims the UK is facing an "epidemic" of injuries suffered at work.
 
Dozens of construction deaths last yearA series of events was being held across the country to mark Workers Memorial Day.

They included a demonstration by the GMB outside Parliament to highlight the "growing problem" of attacks on minicab drivers.

The GMB is pressing for cctv cameras and protective shields to be installed in minicabs following 49 violent attacks in the first three months of the year.

The TUC claims 175 million working days were lost as a result of sickness last year, costing firms £650 per absent worker.

General secretary Brendan Barber said: "The UK is currently facing an epidemic of occupational ill health.

"Many people are ill and in pain as a result of lifting injuries, slips and trips, stress and hearing loss suffered either at or caused by their work."

To help combat the problem the TUC has issued a new health and safety handbook to union reps.

Meanwhile, the construction workers' union Ucatt was planning memorial events to honour the 69 building workers killed in the UK last year.

General secretary Alan Ritchie said: "onstruction bosses and the authorities need to do far

more to reduce this death toll."
 

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