Sunday, April 28, is Workers' Memorial Day, a day set aside for rememberence of those who were hurt or killed on the job.
Each year on April 28, Workers Memorial Day, working people throughout the world remember those who were hurt or killed on the job and renew our struggle for safe workplaces. In town squares and union halls, at worksites and memorials, in community after community—we are gathering to remember our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives and to fight for safe workplaces and for good jobs for all workers.
This year is also the 42th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the right of workers to a safe job.
Workplace fatalities and injuries have significantly declined. This progress didn’t just happen because the OSHA law and mine safety law were passed. It happened because workers and their unions organized, fought and demanded action from employers and their government.
But our work is not done. Many job hazards are unregulated and uncontrolled. Some employers, like Massey Energy and BP, cut corners and violate the law, putting workers in serious danger and costing lives. Each year thousands of workers are killed and millions more injured or diseased because of their jobs.
Join us in mourning the dead and fighting for the living.
AFL-CIO, Workers' Memorial Day, April 28
Go here to find an event near you. AFL-CIO, Workers' Memorial Day, April 28
It is still a daily struggle for many people just to be safe on the job.
The Obama administration has moved forward to strengthen protections with tougher enforcement and a focus on workers’ rights. But much-needed safeguards on silica and other workplace hazards have stalled in the face of fierce attacks by business groups and the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives who want to stop new protections.
We must press forward.
More on Workers' Memorial Day
A job should not be a threat to a worker's health and safety, yet too many are. OSHA is underfunded and lacks the ability to enforce the laws we have.
In 2010, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4,690 workers were killed on the job—an average of 13 workers every day—and an estimated 50,000 died from occupational diseases. Workers suffer an additional 7.6 million to 11.4 million job injuries and illnesses each year. The cost of job injuries and illnesses is enormous—estimated at $250 billion to $300 billion a year.
The risk of job fatalities and injuries varies widely from state to state—from 13.1 fatalities per 100,000 workers in West Virginia to 0.9 fatalities per 100,000 in New Hampshire. Latino workers continue to be at increased risk of job fatalities, with a fatality rate of 3.9 per 100,000 workers in 2010.
This year's edition of "Death on the Job" details not only the data about workplace death, injuries and illnesses, but also the reasons behind them and what must be done to save lives.
Link to 2012 Death on the Job Report: The Toll of Neglect
Death on the Job Report
Sunday will be a good day to remember those workers who lost lives or were diseased because of their jobs and pledge to do more to prevent such deaths and disease. One big step is to help unions organize and elect people who will change laws to do so.