By Tonya Ford, OSHA National Family Liaison
In the days leading up to Workers Memorial Day on April 28 each year, I had the privilege of welcoming more than 140 family members of fallen workers to Department of Labor headquarters in Washington, D.C., to honor the memory of those who tragically suffered fatal injuries or illnesses on the job.
Throughout the week, these families shared their stories with leadership from OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration – stories filled with grief, resilience, and unwavering support. Together, we gathered for a memorial ceremony, wreath laying, and candlelight vigil to not only honor and remember the lives lost because of workplace incidents, but also to stand with those left behind – the families, friends, coworkers, and communities who continue to carry the weight of that loss every single day.
That is why our focus must be on action. The best way to honor those lost lives is to do more to protect workers who still face daily hazards on the job and ensure that each one of them returns home safe and healthy at the end of their workday. This year, we hosted three days of safety training – both in person and online — to raise awareness about common and often deadly workplace hazards and how to prevent them.
We closed the week with a panel discussion of family members who not only shared their losses and the lasting effects on their lives, but they also emphasized that no family should have to endure the same pain.
Every face, every name, and every empty seat at a dinner table, graduation, or wedding should serve as a reminder for employers and workers across the country – as it does for all of us at OSHA – to make workplace safety not just our responsibility, but also our mission.
You can watch videos of the week’s ceremonies, panel discussion, and online training sessions on our Workers Memorial Day webpage.
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Original article published by OSHA