The U.S. Department of Labor will host its annual Workers Memorial Day ceremony on April 24 to honor workers who have lost their lives on the job.
Families from across the country will gather at the department’s Washington headquarters for the 1 p.m. EDT event, which will also be available via livestream.
Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer will speak at the ceremony alongside OSHA Acting Assistant Secretary Amanda Wood Laihow and MSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy James Paul McHugh.
The memorial comes as workplace fatalities showed some improvement in recent data. In 2023, 5,283 workers suffered fatal injuries on the job, a decrease of 203 deaths from the previous year. Despite this reduction, work-related injuries still claim approximately 15 lives daily in the United States.
National observance highlights safety commitment
Workers Memorial Day is traditionally observed on April 28, with local ceremonies held nationwide that bring together workers, families and labor organizations in a unified commitment to workplace safety.
The date holds historical significance as it marks the anniversary of OSHA’s establishment in 1971 following the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
The Department of Labor emphasized that ensuring worker safety requires ongoing collaboration between employers, unions, safety professionals and workers themselves.
According to the department, strengthening workplace protections and fostering a strong safety culture are essential components in preventing workplace tragedies and creating environments where all jobs are both safe and economically sustainable.
