Governor Jay Inslee speaks at Worker Memorial Day 2014.
It was standing room only in the Department of Labor & Industries auditorium on April 29 as the state stopped to remember the 65 workers who died from work related injuries and illnesses during 2013. Worker Memorial Day was established in 1989 to remember fallen workers and to commemorate the creation of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
L&I Director Joel Sacks welcomed the friends and families of the fallen, L&I employees, and the public to the ceremony.
Governor Jay Inslee spoke next making it clear he took this duty very seriously, expressing condolences on behalf of the citizens of Washington State, and pledging to “do everything humanly possible” to eliminate work related deaths. He noted that the number of deaths has been declining in recent years but urged everyone to bolster their efforts to improve workplace safety.
Jeff Johnson, President of the Washington State Labor Council, highlighted the fact that immigrant workers experience much higher accident rates than the general workforce. In addition, he offered four challenges. Employers: replace all workplace safety bonus plans that act as a disincentive to the reporting of accidents. Unions and Workers: build back up the knowledge and focus regarding health and safety that has declined in recent years. L&I and OSHA Employees: thank you for your service but please more urgency. Congress: pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Gary Chandler, Vice President for the Association of Washington Business, emotionally spoke of the day he received the phone call that his son had died on the job as a volunteer firefighter. He noted that since 1970 workplace deaths have been reduced by more than 65% while the workforce has almost doubled, but that doesn’t mitigate the pain and loss which must be our goal to end.
Kris Tefft, the new Executive Director of the Washington Self-Insurers Association, spoke of his commitment to collaborate and share his members best practices regarding workplace safety.
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