Workers' Memorial Day: Honoring Those Who Lost Their Lives, Suffered Injuries, Illnesses from Work
Organizations, companies and agencies will be hosting events for Workers’ Memorial Day, held on April 28.
- By Alex Saurman
- Apr 21, 2023
In 2020, 4,764 people died from work-related injuries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of fatalities rose the following year when 5,190 people lost their lives. In a two-year span, that’s nearly 10,000 workers who died, who left behind families, friends and loved ones.
Workers’ Memorial Day, held on April 28, is a time to remember and honor workers who lost their lives or whose health was negatively impacted due to work-related incidents and their loved ones as well as discuss changes that can be made to create safer worksites.
Across the country, many companies and organization will host events in honor of the day. On April 27, at 1 p.m., OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will be hosting a Workers' Memorial Day Ceremony online and in person at the U.S. Department of Labor Frances Perkins Building in Washington DC. Liz Shuler, President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), and Wanda Engracia, United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities Vice President, will also be at the event, per a news release. In 2005, an industrial explosion claimed the life of Engracia's husband, Pablo Morillo. Morillo was 29 years old at the time of the incident, the New York Times reported.
“On Workers Memorial Day, as we remember the people whose jobs claimed their lives, we must recognize that behind these numbers, there are people who mourn each loss. For them, these statistics are loved ones: they’re parents, children, siblings, relatives, friends, or co-workers,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker in the news release. “On this day of remembrance, we should reflect on what might have prevented their loss and recommit ourselves to doing all we can—and all that can be done—to safeguard workers and to fulfill our moral obligation and duty as a nation to protect America’s workers.”
If you're planning to attend the OSHA and MSHA event in person, you can register on Eventbrite. Those attending virtually do not need to register but can watch the event at www.osha.gov/workers-memorial.
A complete list of events being held in various states can be found on OSHA’s Memorial Day Events web page and the AFL-CIO's website.
In addition to events, OSHA also has a web page dedicated to fallen workers. The Workers Memorial Wall contains photos, names, ages and locations of some of the many workers that lost their lives. If you are interested in having a loved one recognized on the virtual wall, the agency invites you to send a photo to [email protected].
About the Author
Alex Saurman is a former Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety,who has since joined OH&S’s client services team. She continues to work closely with OH&S’s editorial team and contributes to the magazine.