Workers’ Memorial Day was established to recognize workers who died or experienced exposure to hazards at work. Every year on April 28th, people around the world remember those who have lost their lives at their workplace.
Discussion Points:
• Workers’ Memorial Day recognizes those who lost their life in work-related accidents;
• The NCS encourages workers to take the “SafeAtWork” Pledge;
• What are the employers’ responsibilities in making the workplace safe?
• How can the employee make the workplace safer?
• The NIOSH webpage “Worker Health Charts” can provide useful information about jobs
and health in America
Discussion:
More than 5,200 workers in the United States lose their life because of work-related injuries and illnesses annually. That is equivalent to 3.5 fatal injuries per 100,000 full-time workers. Worldwide, more than 2.3 million workers die every year. These occupational injuries, illnesses, and deaths have an enormous impact on employers’ and the employees’ families; high medical costs, loss of production, and pain and suffering are consequences of these injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
There are multiple sources of statistics for work-related injuries and illnesses in the United States. The NIOSH webpage “Worker Health Charts” can provide useful information about jobs and health in America and allows for the creation of custom charts from multiple data sources. Workers’ Memorial Day was established in 1970 by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and coincides with the anniversary date of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH). The National Safety Council encourages American workers to prioritize safety at work, take the “SafeAtWork” Pledge, and dedicate the pledge to those who have lost their lives on the job. While safety in the workplace is the employer’s responsibility, each employee must decide to make safe choices every day. Take the pledge to
be SafeAtWork @ nsc.org/workpledge. Employers and Employees can join the celebration as there are many events scheduled across the world to honor and recognize those who have lost their lives and to learn more about OSHA’s mission, workers’ rights, and employers’ responsibilities. A list of these events can be found on OSHA’s website at https://www.osha.gov/workers-memorial/workers-memorial-day-
As always, be safe out there!
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