WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Workers’ Memorial Day is an annual event that honors and remembers those who have lost their lives due to work-related injuries and illnesses.
April 28, 2024 - Oakland—The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) will honor the California workers who have lost their lives due to work-related injuries and illnesses at events on April 28 and 29. Cal/OSHA will be joined by partners OSHA, District Council of Iron Workers of the State of California & Vicinity, Hispanic Arborists Association, Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park, and WorkSafe in these cities:
Sunday, April 28: in Arcadia and Richmond
Monday, April 29: in San Francisco and San Diego.
Workers’ Memorial Day is an international day of remembrance held annually on April 28, the date the Occupational Safety and Health Act was enacted in 1971 to help protect the right of workers to a safe and healthful workplace.
WHY IT MATTERS: In 2022, 5,486 workers across the U.S. lost their lives due to workplace hazards. In California, 504 workers suffered fatal and serious illnesses and injuries. (The leading causes of death were transportation incidents and exposure to harmful substances, which includes unintentional drug overdose deaths.)
Cal/OSHA is at the forefront in adopting regulations to prevent injury and illness, including Heat Illness Prevention, COVID-19 Prevention, Wildfire Smoke Protections, and emergency standards on respirable crystalline silica. Recently, Cal/OSHA focused on indoor heat hazards, triggering onsite inspections for indoor heat complaints, and developing an Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Standard.
Cal/OSHA continues its commitment to raising awareness of workplace safety and health requirements by educating employers on their responsibilities and informing workers of their rights. Cal/OSHA organizes outreach events and offers free assistance to employers and workers by offering a range of multilingual publications, guidance documents, and training resources all accessible for free on our website and Training Academy platform.
Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.
Workers who have questions about protections at the workplace can call 833-579-0927 to speak with a Cal/OSHA representative during normal business hours. Complaints about workplace safety and health hazards can be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.
Acting Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee said: “Workers’ Memorial Day honors all the workers who have lost their lives on the job. It is critical to have workplace safety regulations in place to prevent tragedies from occurring. Cal/OSHA continues to support employers and workers with workplace safety and health guidance, training, and on-site consultation to prevent workplace injury, illness, and death.”
The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency
Source: California Department of Industrial Relations
