A young builder recently killed during a shop renovation was remembered along with others who have lossed their lives at work during the annual event to mark Workers Memorial Day.

But representatives from council, including the mayor and councillors, were not invited to the town hall event, after organiser Waltham Forest Trades Council decided it would be inappropriate in the light of the authority's prosecution for healthy and safety breaches relating to asbestos.  

Marian Nemit, a 21-year-old Romanian builder, died after a wall collapsed on him at a shop in High Road, Leyton.

He is one of eight workers killed in or near Waltham Forest since 1990.

Stella Creasy, Labour candidate for Walthamstow and party colleague John Cryer, who is bidding to be re-elected in Leyton and Wanstead, laid flowers and made speeches at the ceremony.

Ms Creasy said: “To think that just 22 days ago somebody in our borough lost their life in the workplace is a sobering reminder of just how important it is to fight for health and safety legislation.”

Explaining the decision to exclude council representation, organiser Dave Knight said: "It was not suitable to invite the council due to their current prosecution exposing employees to asbestos.

“But we were delighted the local MPs came despite their hard campaign trail and to receive support from them is fantastic.

“We had members from the Parliamentary asbestos committee promise to have all public buildings free of asbestos by 2035. 

"This may seem a long way away but a realistic timeline in our view.

“We want to see a change of tactic and need to see more custodial sentences for company directors whose health and safety failings lead to worker deaths.

“It is important for these deaths to be remembered so that one day the law will change and it not be meaningless.

“I am not ashamed to use these tragedies to help others in the future.”

Workers killed in or near to Waltham Forest

Dan Flanagan died when a wall collapsed on him during the construction of what was then called Poll Tax House in March 1990.

Narvah Kallah, 30, known as Charlie, was electrocuted while working as a plumber at Cushions Galore, High Rd, Leytonstone on December 3 2003.

Paul Jackson, 19, died after a fall in a drain inspection pit in Tavistock Avenue, Walthamstow while working for MTS Cleaning Services sub-contracting to Thames Water on October 29 2006.

Andrezej Rokita, 55, from Poland, was killed by falling materials while working at M & M Contracting Ltd., Midland Rd. Leyton, on March 22 2010.

Raymond Holmes a GMB member died on April 20 2010 on the Coppermill Thames Water site in Walthamstow.

Kazys Kaniauskas, 54, from Barking, died when the council bin lorry he was a passenger in whilst working for Kier was involved in an incident and overturned on the North Circular near Hall Lane, Chingford on September 9 2014.

Alfie Perrin, 16, from Enfield, died when he fell from a scaffold in Camden Rd, Wanstead on November 14 2012.

 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Stella Creasy and John Cryer with a worker highlighting the issue of toxic substances in the workplace