TRADE unionists will today commemorate the thousands of workers killed in workplace accidents.

The event in Gateshead will also support the campaign for better laws to protect workers' health and safety.

A seminar will be followed by a memorial service and banner-blessing ceremony in Saltwell Park, at 1pm.

Delegates will debate the difficulties in prosecuting negligent employers, hear about the Campaign for Corp-orate Accountability and discuss trade unions' role in lobbying for better health and safety laws.

The speakers include Davey Hall, Amicus regional secretary, David Bergman, of the Campaign for Corporate Accountability, Jim Marshall, GMB regional health and safety officer, Phil Davison, of Browell Smith and Company, Ian Waugh, of the Health and Safety Executive, and Dave Anderson, national vice-president of public service union Unison.

Northern TUC regional secretary Kevin Rowan, who will chair the event, said: "Poor health and safety in the workplace costs employers billions every year, it also leaves families without loved ones and continues to maim and injure thousands every year.

"We need a stronger deterrent for employers to act more responsibly in managing health and safety in the workplace.

"We also need a more regulated insurance industry to ensure that all employers take out liabilities insurance and also an industry that rewards those good employers that manage health and safety properly."