Apr 17 2014
Remembering Workers Killed or Injured in the Workplace
More than 4,000 workers lose their lives and even more are injured each year while on the job according to the government agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA. Of those that died in 2012, nearly 20% of the fatalities were in the construction industry where the leading cause of death was falls.
OSHA’s mission is to ensure a safe and healthy workplace, enforce safety standards, and provide training, outreach, education and assistance. But, there is 1 health and safety inspector for every 6000 workers.
In an effort to draw attention to the dangers of the workplace, each year on April 28, OSHA holds a Workers’ Memorial Day to honor those who have been killed or severely injured on the job as well as to promote better working conditions for all employees.
The memorial is an international event started in 1984 by the Canadian Union of Public Employees. It began being recognized in the US only since 1989.
In California, there will be a series of events including a march starting on April 28th to mark Workers Memorial Day, drawing attention to the fact that immigrant workers are disproportionately impacted by workplace hazards.
GUEST: Jorge Cabrera, coordinator of the Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (So Cal COSH)
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