L&I, Governor Honoring Fallen Workers Tomorrow
Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Department of Labor and Industries will honor the more than 100 workers who died from job-related injuries or illnesses in Washington in 2006 during a Worker Memorial Day ceremony Wednesday. The ceremony at L&I headquarters in Tumwater is the 14th held by the agency to memorialize fallen workers.
"Worker Memorial Day is a somber reminder of the importance of workplace safety and health. Where workplace hazards exist, workers are at risk," L&I Director Judy Schurke said. "There's no better way to honor these workers than by dedicating ourselves to making sure these tragedies don't happen again." Schurke will introduce Gregoire, Rick Bender of the Washington State Labor Council, Don Brunell of the Association of Washington Business, and Therese Baxter of the Washington Self-Insurers Association during the ceremony.
Family members of workers who died in 2006 have been invited, and the one-hour ceremony is open to the public. Afterward, a dedication of a new worker memorial bell sculpture on the grounds of the L&I building will take place. The bell was commissioned and donated by the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council.