It’s not too much to ask to be safe at work. In fact, the US Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1971 says every worker has a fundamental right to a safe work environment.

And yet there are still too many avoidable accidents. Too many injuries. And way too many deaths.

In 2024, the most recent full year of data available, . And about 135,000 died from occupational diseases not including COVID-19.

“On Workers Memorial Day, we mourn the loss of all those who have died, been seriously injured or made ill while on the job. Going to work and earning a paycheck to support your family should not be hazardous to your health. Unfortunately, every year, thousands of families receive the devastating news that their loved one died or was seriously injured on the job, often because of a preventable workplace hazard,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders.

Saunders said the Trump administration has weakened worker protections by cutting funding for inspections and enforcement. Stronger safeguards against extreme heat for those who work outside, like sanitation and highway workers, have not been approved, and those in health care, corrections and other fields continue to face unacceptable high rates of workplace violence, he said.

“These reckless decisions put more workers in harm’s way and make tragedies like the ones we commemorate today more likely. That’s why we’re organizing for stronger workplace protections — such as heat standards and workplace violence regulations — so sanitation workers, nurses, behavioral health workers, paramedics, corrections officers, and other public service workers can do their jobs without risking preventable injury or death. AFSCME members and all workers deserve a government that mandates and enforces strong worker safety protections,” Saunders said.

These attacks only make AFSCME members fight harder for improved safety programmes and stronger enforcement, the union said.

AFSCME members are leading efforts all over the country through advocating protective legislation, bargaining strong contracts or organizing members across sectors around health and safety:

• Kaiser Permanente health care professionals in California and Hawaii won robust contracts this year, including provisions for stronger staffing, after going on a historic strike;
• AFSCME library members in Washington state held a summit last year to address pressing health and safety concerns, such as workplace violence;
• AFSCME members in Texas this year defended workplace protections for pregnant and postpartum corrections.

The union concluded that this Workers Memorial Day, we take inspiration from the AFSCME members around the country who serve their communities with dedication and skill, and stand together to fight for respect, dignity and safety all workers deserve.

Full AFSCME 28 April statement
https://www.afscme.org/blog/workers-memorial-day-honor-those-we-lost-by-fighting-for-stronger-workplace-safety