OSHA Reflects on 2022 Workers Memorial Day

In remembrance of those who suffered injury or illness on the job this year, OSHA and the Executive Office of the President issued statements to honor Workers Memorial Day, April 28, 2022.

Labor Secretary Marty Walsh issued a video statement remembering workers who were injured, suffered from illness, or lost their lives due to work-related activities. The Department of Labor also released a half-hour video segment featuring testimony from Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Doug Parker and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Patty Murray.

Mine worker Jesse Stolzenfels talked about how a mining accident he survived impacted workplace safety policy while Alejandro Zuniga discussed coping with carbon monoxide poisoning on the job.
 

Earlier this week, President Joe Biden released a proclamation in the Federal Register to recognize Workers Memorial Day:
 

“On Workers Memorial Day, we mourn every worker who was lost on the job or from exposure to workplace hazards and join their families and everyone who loved and cared for them in turning pain into purpose. Their memories command us to continue our work toward a future in which no one has to risk their life for a paycheck.”

Many State Agencies held their own events, including California, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.

Workers Memorial Day began in 1989 when the AFL-CIO sought to honor the many workers killed and injured on the job. Since then, April 28 has been recognized as the day of remembrance for workers in nearly two dozen countries, such as Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Portugal, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a worker dies from work-related injuries every 99 minutes. Nearly one in five fatally injured workers was employed as a truck driver or sales worker/driver.

Most Frequent OSHA Violations of 2021

OSHA typically unveils its preliminary list of the 10 most-cited workplace safety violations each fall. While OSHA's annual list doesn’t cover every important workplace hazard, it provides an overview of the most common and costly violations for American employers.

See the 2021 Top 10 OSHA Violations List Here.

OSHA Safety, Hazmat, and HAZWOPER Training Anytime, Anywhere

From respirators and PPE to hazard communication and lithium batteries, find safety training you need to protect your staff and maintain compliance with OSHA safety standards in 29 CFR at Lion.com/OSHA. 

Courses are interactive and self-paced, and employees can stop and start as needed to fit training into their day-to-day work schedules.
 

Tags: employee safety, osha, worker safety