Kenyan BWI affiliate KQMWU will hold a safety training session to promote awareness and capacity to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day
KUPRIPUPA will raise awareness on worker safey and health and commemorate IWMD through the planting of trees in workplaces.
BWI affiliates in Tanzania are planning multiple activities for 28 April.
TAMICO is holding organising through OHS campaign activities at four separate infrastructure project sites via social media campaign and face to face actions.
TUICO will conduct four joint OHS trainings/in-house training sessions, workplace visits, inspections and related media work.
GFBCTU, a BWI affiliate in Lebanon, held an OSH awareness campaign at Holcim on 25 April as part of this year’s observance of International Workers’ Memorial Day. Members of the union said that OSH is a fundamental right of workers that should be recognised and prioritised by Holcim. #IWMD2023 #MakeItHappen
Aberdeen, Persley Walled Garden, Bridge of Don, Friday 28th April, 12.30pm for 1.00pm
Alexandria, Tree, Christie Park Memorial, Saturday 22nd April, 1.00pm
Alloa, Workers Memorial adjacent to Clackmannanshire Council Headquarters, Friday 28th April, 10.30am
Bathgate, Workers Memorial, Bathgate Sports Centre, Torpichen Road, Friday 28th April, 12.30pm
Bonnyrigg, Michael McGahey Memorial, George V Park, Bonnyrigg, Friday 28th April, 12.30pm
Coatbridge, Summerlee Industrial Museum, Heritage Way, Coatbridge, Friday 28th April, 12 noon
Dundee, Memorial Tree, adjacent to Discovery Point, Riverside Drive, Friday 28th April, 12 noon
Edinburgh, Memorial and Tree, West Princes Street Gardens , Friday 28th April, 12.30pm Falkirk, Callendar Riggs Saturday 29th April
Glasgow, Workers Memorial, People’s Palace/ Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, Friday 28th April, 12 noon
Greenock, Grand Hall, Inverclyde Council HQ followed by wreath laying in Clyde Square, Friday 28th April, 11.45
Hamilton, Townhouse, Beckford Street, Friday 28th April, 11.45
Inverness, Workers Memorial Friar’s Shott/Huntly Street, Inverness, Friday 28th April, 12.30pm
Irvine, Memorial Garden, Kilwinning Road, Thursday 27th April, 6.30pm
Kilmarnock, Memorial Tree, Dean Country Park, Saturday 29th April, 10.45am
Kirkcaldy, Memorial Tree, Beveridge Park, Friday 28th April, 11.00am
Paisley, Workers Memorial , Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Friday 28th April, 12 noon
Renfrew, Workers Memorial Cairn, Robertson Park, Paisley Road, Friday 28th April, 11.00am
Stirling, International Workers Memorial Tree, Old Viewforth, Pitt Terrace, 10.30am at the tree
On this World Day for Safety and Health at Work (28 April 2023), the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the world’s leading chartered professional body for people responsible for safety and health in the workplace, celebrates the 10 months that have passed since the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted a safe and healthy work environment as a fundamental principle and right.
With IOSH being part of the family of Commonwealth-accredited organisations, we’re doing this by focusing on the Commonwealth’s growing commitment to developing good occupational safety and health (OSH). So, here we profile OSH professionals from 10 Commonwealth players (including the Commonwealth Secretariat, in London) – one for each month since the historic ILO adoption – to show how they’ve each ‘struck a blow’ for the ILO… and an exciting new era for OSH around the globe.
Here are two of the 10 Commonwealth profiles (a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries), featuring the President of UK headquartered IOSH, Lawrence Webb and the Commonwealth Secretariat, based in London, but you can link to all the other Commonwealth profiles at How Commonwealth is ‘striking a blow’ for ILO | IOSH.
Strike Day rallies to commemorate International Workers’ Memorial Day
Civil service union PCS is holding its third day of national strike action across Britain on 28 April, which coincides with International Workers Memorial Day. The union says:
International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) is an annual event when labour and trade union movement members from across the world come together to remember those that have lost their lives at work, and to renew our commitment to fight for the living and make work safe.
PCS is organising events across the UK to follow the morning picket lines.
There will be a rally in central London at Whitehall (opposite Downing Street, SW1A 2AT) at noon, with speeches from PCS deputy president, Martin Cavanagh, as well as striking PCS members. It is expected that the rally will also be addressed by prominent Labour MPs and general secretaries from other unions. There will also be a silence to mark #IWMD23.
In Durham, local strikers are asked to meet at the HMPO Durham picket line (Freeman’s Place, Durham DH1 1SL) from 10:00am. A short march will leave from there at 11:15am to the Market Square (DH1 3NJ) for a strike rally at noon. The Durham rally will be addressed by PCS president, Fran Heathcote, as well as a range of other speakers, including Mary Foy MP. The Durham rally will also include a silence to mark IWMD.
There are also plans for post-picket line gatherings in Bristol and Liverpool, with speakers and refreshments for striking PCS members. You can find details of these and other events happening near you on the events pages of the PCS website.
The following excerpt is from Confined Space, the excellent US work safety and labor issues blog. To read the complete story click here:
“Ahh…. as Friday approaches, many working people breathe a sigh of relief. The weekend is in sight, spring is in the air, and there may be some time for a little R&R, even in the crush of chores, kids, and other family matters that need attention. Of course, some will gear up for a full-on working weekend, ensuring that stores and gas stations remain open; mail and packages get delivered; buses, trains, and taxis keep operating; medical services are provided; and our loved ones in nursing homes are cared for.
This coming Friday, April 28, is more than just another Friday. It is Workers Memorial Day, the day when people around the world pause, recognize, remember, and honor those workers who have paid the ultimate price — suffering, dying, or becoming disabled as a result of injuries and illnesses related to their jobs. And then redouble their efforts to make sure that workplaces are safe for the living…” More
April 28th is the labour movement’s most solemn day, but also one to refocus our commitment to prevent future workplace injuries and deaths. Every year, thousands of workers, friends and families of fallen workers gather at ceremonies across Canada to recognize the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job.
This year, we will gather in communities across the country. As we mourn for the dead, the Canadian Labour Congress continues to fight for the living.
Find an event near you:
Atlantic Region
Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John’s & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
NL Confederation Bldg, 100 Prince Philip Drive, St.John’s
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m.
Contact: Patrick Dunne 709-763-4091
SJDLC709NL@gmail.com
Corner Brook & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
Holy Redeemer Cathedral, 15 Mt. Bernard Ave, Corner Brook
April 28, 2023, 2:00 p.m.
Contact: Jim O’Neill 709-634-3695
jloneill@nf.sympatico.ca
Labrador West & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
5795 USW Union Hall, 105 Hudson Dr, Labrador City
April 28, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
Contact: Claude Gray, 709-944-1014
c_mgray@hotmail.com
Grand Falls Windsor Day of Mourning Committee
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
Grand Falls Windsor Forestry Workers Memorial, Lincoln Road
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m.
Contact: David Hillier, 709-290-4907
davidhillier@gmail.com
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island Federation of Labour
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
St. Paul’s Hall, 101 Prince Street, Charlottetown
April 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Carl Pursey, PEI Federation of Labour President
peifed@pei.aibn.com
New Brunswick
Saint John and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
Frank and Ella Hatheway Labour Exhibit Centre
55 Lake Dr S, Saint John, NB E2K 5S3
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m.
Contact: Pat Riley, longsure273@gmail.com
Moncton & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Cenotaph in Bore Park (Riverfront)
April 28, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon)
Contact: Melissa Brown 506-872-4643 melandiade@hotmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/MonctonLabour/
Ontario Region
Guelph District Labour Council
Goldie Mill Park, 75 Cardigan St, Guelph, N1H 3Z7
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Jennifer Hesch jennilynncda@gmail.com
Website (if available): https://www.facebook.com/Guelph-District-Labour-Council-1593522250974861
Huron District LC Day of Mourning
(Across from) 181 Victoria Street North, Goderich ON
April 23, 2023, 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Jim Vance 226-222-0157 or Drew Macaulay drmacaulay@hotmail.com
Stratford & District Labour Council
Upper Queens Park, 55 Queen Street, Stratford ON, N5A 4M9
April 28, 2023, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Sarnia & District Labour Council
Centennial Park on Sarnia Bay, Front Street
April 28, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Contact: sdlc57@outlook.com
Windsor & District Labour Council
St. Augustine’s Church Hall (formerly St. Aidans’s, Wyandotte at Westminster)
April 28, 2023, 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Mike Jee 226-345-6807 mike3jee@gmail.com
Chatham-Kent Labour Council
Day of Mourning Monument
Grand Avenue, across from Canadian Tire, Chatham
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Linda Reaume 519-676-7803
St. Catherines, Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument dedicated to the Fallen Welland Canal Workers, located at Lock 3 on the Welland Canal Parkway – West side of the Canal
April 28, 2023, 7:30 a.m.
Contact: nrlc.clc@gmail.com
St. Catherines, Niagara Regional Labour Council
Under the St. Catherines Skyway. Located on the Welland Canal Parkway – West side of the Canal, under the bridge.
April 28, 2023, 8:00 a.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com
Niagara-on-the-Lake – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument located at the Centennial Arena
1557 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil
April 28, 2023, 9:15 a.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com
Niagara Falls – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument located at Niagara Falls City Hall
4310 Queen Street, Niagara Falls
April 28, 2023, 10:30 a.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com
Fort Erie – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument located at Forth Erie City Hall
1 Municipal Centre Drive, along Highway 3
April 28, 2023, 11:45 a.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com
Port Colborne – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument located at H.H. Knoll Park on Sugarloaf St., beside the hospital
April 28, 2023, 1:00 p.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com
Welland – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument located beside the Canal in Merritt Park – 151 King St.
April 28, 2023, 2:00 p.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com
Port Robinson – Niagara Regional Labour Council
In memory of Robyn Lafleur, Esquire Canada
Explosion site (1999) 125 South St. North
April 28, 2023, 3:00 p.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com
St. Catharines – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the Monument located at St. Catharines City Hall- 50 Church St.
April 28, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com
Niagara Region – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the Monument located at the Region of Niagara Headquarters
1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Niagara Region
April 28, 2023, 5:15 p.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com
Durham Region Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Oshawa City Hall, 50 Centre St. S., Oshawa
April 28, 2023, 10:30 a.m.
Contact: durhamregionlabourcouncil@gmail.com
Website: https://www.durhamlabour.ca
Brantford & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Fordview Park
5 Fordview Ct, Brantford, ON N3T 5W3
April 28, 2023, 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Cory Judson 226-388-0547 coryjudson@live.ca
Website: http://www.brantforddistrictlabourcouncil.ca/
Peterborough & District Labour Council
Proclamation and flag raising at Peterborough City Hall, 500 George Street
April 28, 2023, 10:45 a.m.
Contact: Stephanie Levesque 705-313-1103
Sudbury & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning – Laurentian University, Fraser Auditorium
935 Ramsey Lake Rd., Sudbury Ontario
April 28, 2023, Doors at 9:00 a.m., event at 9:30 a.m.
Contact: Jessica Montgomery – jmontgomery@ohcow.on.ca
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/692439605904483/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22home%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22surface%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22groups_highlight_units%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D
North Simcoe Muskoka & District Labour Council
Workers’ Day of Mourning
Tudhope Park 450 Atherley Rd, Orillia, ON
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Mike De Rose – (416) 937-7982
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/731216048602213/?ref=newsfeed
North Bay & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning
In front of City Hall, 200 McIntyre St E, North Bay, ON
April 28, 2023, 4:30 p.m.
Contact: Henri Giroux – hgiroux1@hotmail.com
Thunder Bay & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning
Patterson Park, corner of Miles St. & May St. Thunder Bay
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact : Carlos Santander-Maturana – santalfo@tbaytel.net
Sault Ste Marie & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning – 68 Dennis St., Sault Ste. Marie
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m. (doors at 10:30 a.m.)
Contact: Michele McCleave-Kennedy – presidentssmdlc@gmail.com
Waterloo Regional Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Worker’s Monument
Willow River Park (Victoria Park), 32 Dill St., Kitchener
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Jeff Pelich, President president@wrlc.ca
Website: www.wrlc.ca
Hamilton & District Labour Council
Hamilton City Hall
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Anthony Marco, President amarco@rogers.com
Website: www.hamiltonlabour.ca/day_of_mourning_2023
Oakville & District Labour Council
Centennial Plaza, 120 Navy Street, Oakville ON
April 28, 2023, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Contact: Dave Buddell 1st V.P
Email: dbuddell@etfohalton.on.ca
Grey Bruce Labour Council
They hold three ceremonies but details are available for one
Bruce Power, Tiverton Facility (*This event is not open to the public)
April 27, 2023
Contact: Dave Trumble
*Details to follow
Orangeville & District Labour Council
Orangeville Monument
Address: 214 Broadway Orangeville ON L9W 1K3
April 28, 2023, 12:15 p.m.
Contact: Sania Wadalia, President swadalia@hotmail.com
Toronto & York Region Labour Council
Two commemorative in-person events
York Region, Woodbridge Memorial Arena, 5020 Hwy 7, Woodbridge
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Website: www.labourcouncil.ca/events
Toronto, Larry Sefton Park, 500 Bay Street, Toronto
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m.
Website: www.labourcouncil.ca/events
Lindsay and District Labour Council
National Day of Mourning ceremony
Victoria Park, Lindsay
April 30, 2023, 1:00 p.m.
Contact: James Mulhern 705 324 7841, oneworldonevoice@sympatico.ca or ldlcouncil@gmail.com
Timmins & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning
Timmins Miner’s Memorial, Lions Park
85 Mcintyre Rd., Schumacher On
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Ottawa & District Labour Council
Vincent Massey Park, Ottawa, ON
Friday, April 28, 2023, 12:30 p.m.
Contact: Jennifer jennifer@ottawalabour.org
Lanark & District Labour Council
Perth Crystal Palace, next to Tay Basin
28 Drummond St E, Perth, ON
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m.
Rideau Canal Museum, Smiths Falls
34 Beckwith St. S, Smiths Falls
April 28, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Ike ike.doornekamp@ucdsb.on.ca
Cornwall & District Labour Council
Lamoureux Park
100 Water St E, Cornwall, ON
April 28, 2023; 11:45 a.m.
Louise Lanctot 613-932-1943
Leeds & Grenville Labour Council
Brockville Museum
5 Henry St. Brockville
April 29, 2023; 11:00 a.m.
James Roy leedsandgrenvillelabourcouncil@gmail.com
Renfrew & District Labour Council
Renfrew at Memorial by Swinging Bridge and Pembroke at Waterfront by Algonquin Campus
April 28, 2023, Renfrew at 12:00 p.m. and Pembroke at 5:00 p.m.
Micheal Wright 613-570-1804
Kingston & District Labour Council
OPSEU Regional Office
824 John Counter Blvd, Kingston
Friday, April 28, 11:00 a.m.
Janet Heyman janetheyman@live.ca
Grey Bruce Labour Council
Heritage Square
358 Tenth St, Hanover, N4N 1P4
April 28, 2023, 10:45 a.m. -11:15 a.m.
Labour and Community Speakers
Contact Hazel Pratt peacegirlhp2@gmail.com, 519-363-2991 or mobile 519-379-7905
Barrie and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning
City Hall 70 Collier Street, Barrie L4M 4T5
April 28, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. flag raising
6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. candlelight vigil
Contact – Michele MacDonald (barrielabourcouncil@gmail.com) OR Donna Beischlag (donnabeischlag@hotmail.com)
Website – barrielabour.ca
Prairie Region
Alberta
Red Deer and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Bower Ponds Stage 4715 Fountain Dr, Red Deer, AB T4N 6W4
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Contact: RDDLC – rddlc1@gmail.com
Wood Buffalo and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Howard Pew Parks – Waterways, Fort McMurray
April 28, 2023, 10:45 a.m.
Contact: WBDLC – omer.hussein@hsaa.ca
Calgary & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Ceremony
City of Calgary Workers Memorial, Edward Place Park, City Hall (SE corner)
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Contact: Alex Shevalier, President 403-819-4159
Website: https://www.thecdlc.caThe Calgary & District Labour Council – Calgary & District Labour Council (thecdlc.ca)
Edmonton & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Ceremony
Grant Notley Park 116 Street & 100 Avenue
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Greg Mady, President 780-940-6797
Website: https://edmontonlabour.ca
Manitoba
Brandon & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Gathering
Brandon City Hall, foyer area
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Manitoba Federation of Labour
Day of Mourning Gathering
Union Centre, 275 Broadway, Winnipeg
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m., SWOT Leaders’ walk starts 11:30 a.m., ceremony at Workers Memorial at noon
MFL.ca or https://www.facebook.com/ManitobaLabour
Thompson Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
USW Union Hall
April 28, 2023, 10:00 a.m.
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Civic Square 222 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon
April 28, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Contact: Don McDonald, President, sdlc@sasktel.net
Regina & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Regina City Hall, 2476 Victoria Avenue
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Shobna Radons, President, shobna.radons@sasktel.net
Weyburn & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
TC Douglas Cavalry Centre, 400 – 10th Avenue, Weyburn
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Wanda Bartlett, President, wbartlett@sasktel.net
Pacific Region
North Okanagan Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Ben Lee Park – 900 Houghton Road Kelowna, BC
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Ian Gordon, President, nolcpres@gmail.com
https://www.oklabour.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/406757552682107
New Westminster District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Westminster Pier Park – 1 – 6th Street New Westminster, BC
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
Contact: Janet Andrews nwdlc@shawcable.com
Website: https://www.nwdlc.ca
North Central Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Connaught Hill Park – 1112 Connaught Dr, Prince George, BC
April 28, 2023, 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Contact: Matt Baker, President NCLCboard@gmail.com
Website: https://www.northcentrallabour.ca/
Kamloops and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
St. Andrews on the Square, Kamloops
April 28, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Contact: Lois Rugg, President, kdlcpresident@gmail.com
Squamish & District Labour Committee
Day of Mourning Event
O’Siem Park, Downtown Squamish, Squamish, BC
Sunday, April 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Carl Walker (604) 892-4661
Vancouver & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Jack Poole Plaza, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
April 28, 2023, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Livestream – https://dayofmourning.bc.ca
Contact: Stephen von Sychowski, President president@vdlc.ca
East Kootenay District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Rotary Park, Cranbrook, BC
April 28, 2023, at 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Francesca Burgon, President franburgon.bcgeu@gmail.com
or Shelley Balfour, Recording Secretary ekdistrictlabourcouncil@gmail.com
West Kootenay Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Lakeside Park (near Worker Memorial), Nelson, BC
April 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Contact: Mike van Hellemond, Treasurer mike@ibew993.org
Sunshine Coast Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event – April 28, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in two locations:
1) Workers’ Memorial Plaque, Spirit Square, 5790 Teredo St. Sechelt, BC
2) Worker’s Memorial Plaque, Dougall Park, 339 Aldersprings Rd. Gibsons, BC
Contact: Miyuki Shinkai, President mellonglass@dccnet.com
Fraser Valley Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Abbotsford, BC
April 28, 2023
Time and Location TBA
Contact: Graeme Hutchison, President ghutchison@moveuptogether.ca
https://canadianlabour.ca/events/day-of-mourning-ceremonies-2023/
On April 28, 1970, the OSH Act went into effect. Since that time, workplace safety and health conditions have improved. But despite the progress, too many workers are still at serious risk of injury, illness or death at work.
Workers’ Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for workers killed, disabled or injured on the job, is observed annually on April 28. This year, health and safety nonprofit Worksafe is hosting an event at 6 p.m. at the Laborers’ International Union Hall at 2195 Fortune Drive in San Jose with community groups and unions. The event will feature Cal/OSHA, federal OSHA, workers from various industries, union leaders, Filipino food, interactive displays and music.
The United States had a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries in 2021, meaning a worker died every 101 minutes from an occupational injury over the course of the year. The number of fatal work injuries increased 8.9% from 4,764 in 2020. The fatal injury rate was 3.6 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers in 2021—the highest rate since 2016—up from 3.4 per 100,000 workers in 2020. The pre-pandemic rate in 2019 was 3.5 deaths per 100,000 workers. In 2020, the private construction industry accounted for 1,008 deaths, or 21.2% of total deaths. This was followed by transportation and warehousing with 805 deaths, or 16.9% of total deaths.
The health care and retail industry experienced a large number of injuries and illnesses. In 2020, there were 78,740 cases of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses that resulted in at least one day away from work among registered nurses in private industry. This was a nearly 291% increase, about four times as many cases compared with 2019 when there were 20,150 such cases. There were also 806,200 injury and illness cases in private health care and social assistance, a 40% increase from 2019. This was driven by a 958% increase in illness cases. Private retail trade experienced a 217% increase in illness cases.
For the fourth straight year in a row since 2016, Hispanic and Latino workplace deaths increased. Hispanic and Latino workers accounted for 22.5% of workplace deaths in 2020, up from 20.4% in 2019.
Workplace violence statistics are staggering. There were 392 workplace homicides in 2020. There were also 37,060 nonfatal injuries in the workplace resulting from an intentional injury by another person. The five occupational groups with the most workplace homicides in 2020 were sales, transportation and material moving, management, construction and extraction, and production.
Fast-food workers experience high levels of workplace violence. In a report by UC Berkeley, an analysis of 911 calls made from fast-food locations in major cities throughout California shows that many fast-food restaurants experience high rates of violent activity, including assault, sexual assault and theft. Across 643 locations in nine cities, the researchers identified 77,200 violent or threatening incidents over a four-year period.
One McDonald’s worker interviewed for the UC Berkeley report was jumped and beaten to the point of concussion by a man he had inadvertently bumped with a dustpan. Another was choked behind the register by a customer. A young KFC worker was shot with a BB gun outside the drive-thru and management offered little support. Other workers described being held up at gun point, battered through the drive-thru window, stalked by angry customers and verbally threatened. On Monday, there was a protest at a Jack in the Box on Story Road in San Jose because two workers were taken to the hospital after a customer brutally punched and kicked them.
The franchise model plays a significant role in the failure to prevent workplace violence at fast-food restaurants. Franchisees who may want to do the right thing are hampered by onerous economic and operational constraints imposed by the parent companies. Large global brands like McDonald’s, Jack in the Box and Burger King have no incentive to combat violence at franchises because they can evade legal responsibility under current laws. A bill recently introduced in the Assembly, AB 1228, would impose joint liability on the parent companies and require them to support franchisees to solve problems such as workplace violence and other workplace violations.
California’s workplace violence prevention regulations are currently applicable only to the health care industry. On Feb. 15, state Sen. Dave Cortese introduced SB 553, which would require Cal/OSHA to adopt regulations requiring any employer not subject to the health care regulations to adopt a workplace violence prevention plan as part of the employer’s injury and illness prevention plan.
Cal/OSHA is working on proposed general industry workplace violence prevention standards. In May 2022, Cal/OSHA issued a revised draft of a proposed workplace violence prevention regulation applicable to all industries that would require employers to implement measures to prevent and respond to workplace violence. The proposed regulation has not yet been adopted.
In the face of serious health and safety workplace issues, the Trump administration rolled back longstanding workplace safety protections—targeting job safety rules, safety examinations and injury reporting, and cutting agency budgets and staff.
In the fall of 2019, the federal OSHA began reducing the number of inspections, a policy still in place today. In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA was largely absent from workplaces. While the number of inspectors and inspections improved in fiscal year 2021, there is much more progress to be made.
OSHA must engage in more rigorous enforcement of health and safety laws, and California must enact a workplace violence standard. We should also pay tribute to the workers who were killed, disabled or injured on the job. We hope to see you on Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28 at 6 p.m. at the Laborers’ Hall at 1295 Fortune Drive. The event is free, but please register online.
San José Spotlight columnist Ruth Silver Taube is supervising attorney of the Workers’ Rights Clinic at the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center, supervising attorney of the Santa Clara County’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement Legal Advice Line and a member of Santa Clara County’s Fair Workplace Collaborative. Her columns appear every second Thursday of the month. Contact her at rsilvertaube@scu.edu.