April 29, 2009 The Pump Handle 5Comment

Here are a few articles and posts about Workers Memorial Day events. If you’ve got more, leave a link in the comments.

Las Vegas Sun: Safety advocates testified on Capitol Hill, while Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis attended the groundbreaking for a new National Workers Memorial and vowed that “The Department of Labor is back in the enforcement business.” (Plus, an article about victims’ families here.)

McClatchy Newspapers/San Luis Obispo Tribune: Witnesses at the House Education & Labor Committee hearing urged that OSHA penalties be strengthened in order to deter employers from allowing unsafe working conditions.

Boston Globe: Last year, 66 workers in Massachusetts died on the job or from job-related illnesses.

Charleston Gazette: Celeste Monforton was part of a team investigating the Sago mine disaster, and the experience prompted her to push for an increased role for victims’ family members in workplace fatality investigations.

The Telegraph (Illinois): The Greater Madison County Federation of Labor held a ceremony and candlelight vigil to remember workers killed on the job over the past year. These included Jerry R. Estes, 72, who died while working as a meter reader on a hot day; Jeffrey Thole “J.T.” Pace, 27, who was killed by falling nearly 60 feet through the roof of an Alton Steel building; and Vincent D. Lavite, 38, who died from injuries sustained in a fall from scaffolding while working for Safeway Construction Co. (more photos here)

Below the jump, pictures from the DC event – which you can read about here. 

The crowd gathered at 8am in front of the Department of Labor to remember workers killed on the job.
The crowd gathered at 8am in front of the Department of Labor to remember workers killed on the job.
Members of the Labor Chorus led us in song.
Members of the Labor Chorus led us in song.
Becky Foster holds a picture of her stepson, Jeremy, who was killed in an auger at a Deltic Timber plant at age 19. Later, Becky testified at a House Education & Labor Committee hearing about OSHA penalties.
Becky Foster holds a picture of her stepson, Jeremy, who was killed in an auger at a Deltic Timber plant at age 19. Later, Becky testified at a House Education & Labor Committee hearing about OSHA penalties.
Diane Lillicrap and Rick Power with Acting OSHA Head Jordan Barab. Diane's son and Rick's nephew, Steven Lillicrap, 21, was killed while disassembling a crane on February 3rd.
Diane Lillicrap and Rick Power with Acting OSHA Head Jordan Barab. Diane's son and Rick's nephew, Steven Lillicrap, 21, was killed while disassembling a crane on February 3rd.
Debi Koehler-Fergen with Jordan Barab. Debi's son, Travis Wayne Koehler Travis Wayne Koehler, was 26 when he was killed on the job at Orleans Hotel Casino/Boyds Gaming in Las Vegas.
Debi Koehler-Fergen with Jordan Barab. Debi's son, Travis Wayne Koehler Travis Wayne Koehler, was 26 when he was killed on the job at Orleans Hotel Casino/Boyds Gaming in Las Vegas.
Tonya Ford (left) holds a photo of her uncle, Robert Fitch, who was killed at age 52 while working on a manlift at ADM in Lincoln, NE. Wanda Morillo holds a photo of her husband, Pablo Morillo, who was killed in a workplace explosion at age 30.
Tonya Ford (left) holds a photo of her uncle, Robert Fitch, who was killed at age 52 while working on a manlift at ADM in Lincoln, NE. Wanda Morillo holds a photo of her husband, Pablo Morillo, who was killed in a workplace explosion at age 30.
Celeste Monforton of GW, Jim Frederick of the United Steelworkers, and Tammy Miser of United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities prepare to testify before the Senate Subcommittee hearing. Behind them, family members hold photos of loved ones lost in workplace disasters. Second from the right in the row of audience members is Hope Mock, Tammy's mother. She holds a photo of Shawn Boone, her son and Tammy's brother, who was killed in an aluminum dust explosion at Hayes Lemmerz in Huntington, Indiana.
Celeste Monforton of GW, Jim Frederick of the United Steelworkers, and Tammy Miser of United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities prepare to testify before the Senate Subcommittee hearing. Behind them, family members hold photos of loved ones lost in workplace disasters. Second from the right in the row of audience members is Hope Mock, Tammy's mother. She holds a photo of Shawn Boone, her son and Tammy's brother, who was killed in an aluminum dust explosion at Hayes Lemmerz in Huntington, Indiana.

5 thoughts on “Workers Memorial Day in Words and Pictures

  1. News release:

    Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Councilmembers George Leventhal and Valerie Ervin today joined worker advocates to unveil a new County initiative that will help protect the health and safety of employees in Montgomery County. April 28 is National “Workers Memorial Day,” when unions and community groups across the country remember working men and women who have died on the job and highlight the need for workers’ safety and health.

    “Every job in our community ought to be a safe job,” said Leggett. “Despite our serious budget challenges, there are ways we can use existing resources to help reduce the thousands of workplace injuries and illnesses that occur each year in the County. Our six-point Worker Health and Safety Initiative will be the first of its kind in Maryland to help create a safer work environment for all.

    “Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) does a great job, but it has so few staff that it would take MOSH 110 years to inspect every Maryland workplace once. We can’t do MOSH’s job for them, but we can be the extra eyes and ears they need.”

    The Initiative will provide additional training to building inspectors and other County staff to identify serious workplace dangers. In addition, the initiative will also promote greater awareness of successful approaches that reduce hazards on the job. The County would examine its private contracts and economic development tax credits to ensure adequate health and safety provisions. It also includes distribution of materials in English and Spanish to construction and landscaping firms doing business in the County and a website with useful health and safety information and links to state and federal agencies. …

  2. Brett, thanks for those links. That’s a nice writeup of the NYC event – too bad it doesn’t appear to have gotten any newspaper coverage.

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