Mine, Refinery Victims to Be Honored Wednesday
With OSHA's leader scheduled to speak, a new national memorial for workers who die on the job will be unveiled in Silver Spring, Md. One day earlier, the first congressional hearing after the Upper Big Branch mine explosion will take place.
OSHA's Dr. David Michaels, United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts, and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler will speak on Wednesday at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md., where a National Workers Memorial will be unveiled and victims of the Upper Big Branch mine explosion and the Tesoro refinery explosion and fire on April 2 in Anacortes, Wash. will be honored. Combined, the two incidents resulted in 34 deaths.
That day, Workers Memorial Day, also honors the more than 5,000 American workers who die on the job each year.
One day earlier at 2 p.m. EDT, the first congressional hearing stemming from the mine explosion is scheduled to take place on Capitol Hill. The full U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is scheduled to conduct the hearing, which is titled "Putting Safety First: Strengthening Enforcement and Creating a Culture of Compliance at Mines and Other Dangerous Workplaces."