To remember the victims of workplace accidents and occupational diseases, MEPs are calling for ‘8 August’ to be designated the European Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Accidents at Work and for the Protection and Dignity of Workers, in a bid to raise awareness of prevention and workplace safety across all sectors.
The European Parliament has adopted the resolution calling for the creation of a ‘European Day for Victims of Accidents at Work’ to be observed on this date each year, which refers to the Bois du Cazier coal mine disaster in Belgium on 8 August 1956, claiming the lives of 262 miners from 10 European countries.
Saturday 8 August 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the Marcinelle mining disaster in Belgium – an electrical fire broke out inside the mine shafts of Charleroi’s Bois du Cazier, killing 262 workers. Credit: Belga Photo Archives)
MEPs have claimed that the daywill aim to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and safety at work at public, enterprises, and institutions, together with a roll-out of concrete initiatives in schools, public institutions and businesses. The text was endorsed by MEPs with 395 votes in favour, 12 votes against, and 41 abstentionson on 21 May in the European Parliament.
Within the context where the EU recorded 3,298 fatal accidents and 2.8 million non-fatal accidents in 2023, this resolution also calls on the European Commission to assess the occupational risks linked to AI and algorithmic management systems.
Furthermore, members of the European Parliament are calling for a risk analysis related to extreme heat, heat stress, and meteorological phenomena to better identify extreme risks and provide greater protection for workers.
To ensure safe working environments, the Parliament stresses the essential role of labour inspections. It calls on all EU Member States to strengthen their inspection services by giving them more resources, staff and independence.
“We must transform our tribute to the victims of workplace accidents into a concrete commitment to their prevention. Our resolution supports the ‘Vision Zero’ objective: zero deaths at work,” noted rapporteur Chiara Gemma (ECR, Italy). This request from MEPs could now be taken up by the European Commission in order to achieve official recognition of 8 August as European Day for Victims of Workplace Accidents.
