Washington To Honor Workers Killed On the Job

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries is holding a Worker Memorial Day ceremony April 28 to honor the memories of 73 people who died in 2009 from job-related injuries or illnesses. The ceremony will be at the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) central office in Tumwater.

The deaths occurred at worksites across Washington state and included occupations as varied as police officers and firefighters, cab drivers, construction workers, loggers and sales clerks. Most of those killed were men, but five women also died on the job.

“The events of the past few weeks, with six refinery workers killed in Anacortes and 29 miners killed in West Virginia, are sad reminders that lives continue to be lost to workplace hazards,” said L&I Director Judy Schurke. “This ceremony is our opportunity to honor those who have died on the job, and it should serve as a reminder that more needs to be done to improve workplace safety for everyone.”

The ceremony is Washington’s official Worker Memorial Day commemoration and is one of many held in communities across the nation. The agency has hosted a ceremony for 17 years recognizing fallen workers.

The observance is open to the public. Centerpiece of the ceremony is a reading of the names of the fallen workers, accompanied by bell ringers from the Tumwater Fire Department.

For information, visit http://www.lni.wa.gov.