Fair Work Minister Jamie Hepburn says Scotland has one of the best occupational health and safety records in Europe.

But he agrees even one death in the workplace is one death too many.

The Scottish government is committed to improving workplace health and safety says the minister.

He notes those working in the gig economy are often at more risk than others and the government is working to remove unacceptable working conditions.

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Green MSP John Finnie thanks Scottish Hazards, external and the trade unions for their efforts to make work safer and reduce the numbers of deaths in the workplace.

Mr Finnie says there is an international bond of workers that needs to be recognised.

He pledges to ensure all Scottish Green candidates in the forthcoming EU elections support measures that protect workers and make the working environment safer and healthier.

The Green MSP points out that even the cynical would have to accept a safer workplace is a more productive workplace.

A unionised workplace is a safer workplace concludes the Green MSP.

Image source, Scottish Hazards

Workers' Memorial Day has always been to "remember the dead: fight for the living" and unions are asked to focus on both areas, by considering events or memorial to remember all those killed through work but at the same time ensuring that such tragedies are not repeated. That can best be done by building trade union organisation, and campaigning for stricter enforcement with higher penalties for breaches of health & safety laws.

Workers Memorial Day is commemorated throughout the world and is officially recognised by the UK Government.

Read more at the TUC website., external

Labour MSP Neil Findlay begins saying he looks forward to the day when Workers Memorial Day does not have to be marked and workers are no longer a cog in the machine.

Until that day, workers will be killed, he says, adding a worker dies every 15 seconds.

The lives lost should not be a statistic in a speech but should be a call to action, Mr Findlay argues.

He praises the work of trade unions in their efforts to keep workers and the public safe.

Theme for the day is: “dangerous substances – get them out of the workplace”. The focus will mainly be on carcinogens but you can adapt the theme to whatever is most relevant in your workplace or area, as many substances can also cause illnesses such as asthma or dermatitis.

Two important issues are of course asbestos and diesel exhaust, and the TUC has useful guides on both of them, but other ideas may be cleaning fluids or dust in general - Asbestos - time to get rid of it, external (pdf), Diesel exhaust in the workplace, external (pdf), Occupational cancer, external (pdf)

The TUC has a guide on workplace cancers, external.

Find out what you can do and what events are happening here., external

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Tory MSP Brian Whittle says spending a working day in a safe environment and coming home every day seems a pretty reasonable request.

"Apart from anything else looking after your staff is to the benefit of your company's performance."

He says to hear the extent of deaths at work, when the Scottish Parliament marked International Workers Memorial Day last night, was shocking.

More work needs to be done and poor safety must be highlighted he stresses.

Image source, TUC

From the TUC website: , external

Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don't die of mystery ailments, or in tragic "accidents". They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn't that important a priority. Workers’ Memorial Day (WMD) commemorates those workers.

The TUC coordinates activities across the country, publishing a comprehensive listing of events, external nationally and suggestions. A listing of the global activities is available from the Hazards website, external.

Workers' Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year, all over the world workers and their representatives conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to mark the day.

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SNP MSP Bill Kidd says every year, International Workers' Memorial Day allows us to remember the dead and fight for the living.

He highlights that despite health and safety being taken seriously in the UK, 50,000 workers die each year from work-related illnesses.

In addition, there are 1,500 work-related incidents and accidents each year he adds.

The SNP MSP goes on to highlight the deaths caused by asbestos and the continued risk of exposure.

Premature deaths could and can be avoided if we enforce safety standards, he adds.

SNP MSP Bill Kidd will now lead a debate marking International Workers' Memorial Day 2019 which falls on 28 April.

The day is to remember the estimated 50,000 people who are killed each year through work-related incidents or illnesses.

Green MSP Ross Greer- highlighting that he was a pupil not that long ago - points to evidence indicating the number of subjects on offer is correlated to deprivation.

The first minister repeats that the attainment gap and numbers of people from deprived areas going to university would not be at an all time low.

Labour MSP Johann Lamont says experts are telling us the system is more unequal than it was before.

Ms Sturgeon says everything the Scottish government does in education is designed to narrow the attainment gap.

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SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth, a former teacher, argues progression and depth are the principles of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Is Liz Smith willfully ignoring the facts or "has she just not done her homework"?

The first minister reiterates her point that more young people are leaving schools with qualifications, five highers or more and heading to a positive destination.

Ms Sturgeon reiterates the purpose of the curriculum is to provide pupils with the skills required beyond school.

She says the focus must be on the range of opportunities available throughout school.

Ms Smith says the biggest issue is about the "growing inequity in subject choice", pointing to variations between what schools are offering.

The first minister says the government will pay close attention to the review under way by the education committee, but adds more young people are going to university.

We see the attainment gap closing which is the reverse of the concern Ms Smith is raising, she insists.

Tory MSP Liz Smith asks about measures to reverse the reported decline in subject choice in secondary schools.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson says neurodevelopmental disorders are an issue in schools and reminds the chamber of his diagnosis of ADHD.

The first minister agrees and says the education secretary will be happy to discuss this with him.

A particular concern is the mental health of pupils in rural areas asks Tory MSP John Scott.

Access to mental health services in rural areas is more challenging, accepts the first minister.

Access to services in rural areas is a part of the core planning adds Ms Sturgeon.