Australians now have a memorial to pay tribute to those killed by workplace accidents or diseases, after the Federal Government officially unveiled the National Workers Memorial in Canberra earlier this week.

Minister for Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten, said that the new memorial is a place to pay homage to the hundreds of people killed at work each year, and is a poignant reminder of the importance of workplace safety.

"The National Workers Memorial is a place of reflection and acts as a reminder of the importance of staying safe at work,” Mr Shorten said.

Each year, up to 300 Australians are killed on the job, while up to 2,000 people will die from industrial diseases caused by exposure at work.

"That’s nearly 300 workers, mainly fathers and sons, who do not come home from work each year,” Mr Shorten said.

The memorial features eight columns, which represent the contributions and sacrifice of workers from each state. The concentric rings on the pavement represent the ripple effect on family and the community of work-related deaths.

Designed by Sydney-based architecture firm Johnson Pilton Walker, the memorial was constructed with $3 million in Australian Government funding committed in the 2011–12 Budget.