Workers’ Memorial Day, April 28, is an international day of remembrance for all workers who were killed, disabled, injured, or made sick on the job. Founded by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Workers’ Memorial Day falls on the same day as the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and the establishment of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
In 2014, private industry employers reported 4,679 fatalities and nearly 3 million nonfatal workplace injuries in the United States (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). Construction; transportation and warehousing; and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting were the top three industries with the highest number of fatalities, accounting for over 2,000 deaths in 2014. The top four leading causes of death, also known as “the big four”, are falls, electrocutions, being caught in or between objects, and being struck, hazards predominantly seen in construction. It is believed that eliminating the big four can prevent over 300 deaths annually (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).
In addition to treating work-related injuries and illnesses, the Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health partner with employers and other organizations to prevent injuries and illnesses by building healthier and safer work environments. We invite all of our partners to join us on Workers’ Memorial Day to recommit to worker health and safety. Learn more at www.mountsinai.org/selikoff.