2024 Workers Memorial Day

More than 50 years ago on April 28, Workers Memorial Day, the Occupational Safety and Health Act went into effect, promising every worker the right to a safe job—a fundamental right.

The law was won because of the tireless efforts of the labor movement, which organized for safer working conditions and demanded action from the government to protect working people. Since then, unions and allies have fought hard to make that promise a reality—winning protections under the law that have made jobs safer and saved lives. But our work is not done.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,486 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2022, a 5.7 percent increase from 5,190 in 2021, or about 15 workers dying on the job each day or about one every 96 minutes.  There were 2.8 million injuries and illnesses reported in 2022, which translates to about 7,671 per day.

Vigilance Is Needed to Protect Hard-Fought Safety Laws

On this day, we take a moment to recognize those that have been lost while recommitting ourselves to the continued fight for workplace safety.