April 28 – remembering all those who never returned home from work.

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 – Alaska Worker Memorial Day

Remembering those who never returned home from work.  Alaska has long had the reputation for having the most dangerous jobs in the nation.  Today, we remembered 81 Alaskans who went to work in the morning for their last time…  The Alaska Safety Advisory Council (ASAC) and many volunteers held a memorial diorama on the Park Strip at ‘I’ Street, bringing awareness to the importance of safety on the job for all Alaskans.  How fitting, that this memorial was positioned right across the street from the War Memorial, honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to this great country.

I found it interesting to note, that during the entire Vietnam War, Alaska lost 61 in battle.  During all of World War II, we lost 108 Alaskans.  Today, we remembered just 2019 and 2020 in which we lost 81, not in service to this country, but while making a living simply doing their job.  That is 81 families impacted, someone’s father, sister, mother, friend, daughter, son… to each of them, these are not numbers… it’s personal, and their lives are forever changed.

Let us remember, lest we ever forget the impact safety, or what the lack thereof can have on the community, the family and workplace.                                   Aksafetyadvisory.com

Ann Lindsey,

Chair, Alaska Safety Advisory Council

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Download Infographic (pdf) | OSHA Worker Memorial | NAOSH Worker Memorial

The above infographic is a representation of the occupational fatalities in 2019 and 2020 as listed below.

2019	Construction Manager	Aircraft Incident
2019	Nurse	Aircraft Incident
2019	Nurse	Aircraft Incident
2019	Paramedic	Aircraft Incident
2019	Paramedic	Aircraft Incident
2019	Pilot	Aircraft Incident
2019	Pilot	Aircraft Incident
2019	Pilot	Aircraft Incident
2019	Pilot	Aircraft Incident
2019	Pilot	Aircraft Incident
2019	Scientist	Aircraft Incident
2020	Guide	Aircraft Incident
2020	Pilot	Aircraft Incident
2020	Pilot	Aircraft Incident
2020	Pilot	Aircraft Incident
2019	Scientist	Diving Incident
2019	USCG Seaman	Fall From Shore
2019	Cook	Exposure to Substance
2019	Ship Employee	Exposure to Substance
2019	Fisherman	Fall Overboard
2019	Fisherman	Fall Overboard
2019	Fisherman	Fall Overboard
2019	Tug Boat Captain	Fall Overboard
2020	Fisherman	Fall Overboard
2020	Fisherman	Fall Overboard
2020	Fisherman	Fall Overboard
2020	Fisherman	Fall Overboard
2019	Fisherman	Struck by Object
2019	USCG Boatswain	Struck by Object
2019	Fisherman	Vessel Incident
2019	Fisherman	Vessel Incident
2019	Fisherman	Vessel Incident
2019	Fisherman	Vessel Incident
2019	Fisherman	Vessel Incident
2019	Fisherman	Vessel Incident
2020	Fisherman	Vessel Incident
2020	Fisherman	Vessel Incident
2020	Fisherman	Vessel Incident
2020	Miner	Vessel Incident
2020	Miner	Vessel Incident
2019	Army Paratrooper	Motor Vehicle Incident
2019	Construction Manager	Motor Vehicle Incident
2019	Driver	Motor Vehicle Incident
2019	Driver	Motor Vehicle Incident
2019	Driver	Motor Vehicle Incident
2019	Manager	Motor Vehicle Incident
2020	Driver	Motor Vehicle Incident
2020	Tow Truck Driver	Motor Vehicle Incident
2020	Truck Driver	Motor Vehicle Incident
2019	Gas Station Attendant	Compressed by Object
2020	Inspector	Explosion
2019	Construction Welder	Exposure to Substance
2019	Surgical Technician	Exposure to Substance
2020	Utility Repair Tech	Exposure to Substance
2020	Electrician	Exposure to Substance
2020	Construction	Exposure to Substance
2020	Roofer	Fall to lower level
2020	Mentor	Fall to Lower Level
2019	Heavy Equipment Operator	Heavy Equipment Incident
2019	Heavy Equipment Operator	Heavy Equipment Incident
2019	Army Mechanic	Workplace Violence
2019	Army Soldier	Workplace Violence
2019	Army Soldier	Workplace Violence
2019	Army Soldier	Workplace Violence
2019	Cook	Workplace Violence
2019	Fisherman	Workplace Violence
2019	Hotel Worker	Workplace Violence
2019	Janitor	Workplace Violence
2019	Mechanic	Workplace Violence
2019	Mechanic	Workplace Violence
2019	Mechanic	Workplace Violence
2019	Oilfield Worker	Workplace Violence
2019	Security Guard	Workplace Violence
2019	USAF Airman	Workplace Violence
2019	USCG Petty Officer	Workplace Violence
2020	Army Paratrooper	Workplace Violence
2020	Driver	Workplace Violence
2020	Electrician	Workplace Violence
2020	Fisherman	Workplace Violence
2020	Security Guard	Workplace Violence
2020	Manager	Workplace Violence

81 symbolic cones for 81 lives lost.

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US Department of Labor observes 2021 Workers Memorial Day as agencies look ahead to stronger worker safety, health protections

United States Department of Labor sent this bulletin at 04/28/2021 11:32 AM EDT

News Release from OSHAHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. News ReleaseU.S. Department of Labor  |  April 28, 2021 US Department of Labor observes 2021 Workers Memorial Day as agencies look ahead to stronger worker safety, health protections American Rescue Plan provides $100M to hire OSHA compliance officers WASHINGTON, DC  – Every year on April 28, the U.S. Department of Labor and its Occupational Safety and Health Administration commemorates Workers Memorial Day, when we remember and honor the men and women who have lost their lives on the job. Many of these devastating losses were preventable if standards had been followed, appropriate controls existed and if safety and health programs were a priority. In 2021, the department also observes OSHA’s 50th anniversary. Before the 1971 enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the OSHA’s creation, many workers lacked basic protections from workplace hazards. Since then, OSHA and its many partners have helped transform U.S. workplaces and have reduced injuries, illnesses and fatalities significantly. “Workers Memorial Day reminds us of the sacrifices many workers make to earn their wages and provide for themselves and their families,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “No one should ever have to lose their life, suffer a disabling injury or develop a life-altering illness because they went to work. The dedicated professionals at the U.S. Department of Labor are determined to ensure that U.S. workers finish their workdays safely and hold those accountable whose neglect increases the likelihood of harm to our fellow citizens.”  Despite OSHA’s half-century of progress, more than 5,000 people suffer fatal injuries at work each year, and thousands more are hurt or sickened. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted – perhaps more than in any time in its history – the vital importance of OSHA’s mission. To date, the pandemic has killed more than 570,000 people, many of them essential frontline workers, many people of color and immigrants among them, whose work served a nation in desperate need. In response to the devastation, President Biden issued an executive order that directed the Department of Labor to consider whether any emergency temporary standards were necessary to keep workers safe from the hazard created by COVID-19. On Monday, April 26, OSHA sent draft standards to the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for review after working with its science-agency partners, economic agencies and others in the U.S. government to get the proposed emergency standard right. “In its 50-year history, OSHA has been at the forefront of many positive changes in workplace safety, but the pandemic made it clear – there remains much room for improvement and much more work to do,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick. “We intend to honor those workers who risked and lost their lives in the pandemic – and those they leave behind – by making America’s workplaces the safest and healthiest they can be.”With $100 million in additional funding in the American Rescue Plan of 2021, OSHA is working to protect workers now and in the future. This includes ensuring that OSHA has the resources, such as much-needed staff, to do the agency’s work. The agency is planning to hire more than 160 new critical personnel, including compliance safety and health officers to respond to the pandemic. OSHA will also make available an additional $10 million in funds for Susan Harwood Training grants to support organizations delivering vital training to prevent vulnerable workers from exposure to the coronavirus and infectious disease. The department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration is also ramping up efforts to protect workers at the nation’s thousands of mines by hiring dozens of inspectors and specialists to serve critical geographic areas. Increasing staff will enable the agency to direct more needed enforcement efforts to targeted safety and health hazards, as well as to provide more compliance assistance to special emphasis programs, including coronavirus. “Today we’re honoring the 29 miners who lost their lives on the job in 2020, and recognizing the devastating impact of their absence for their families and communities,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Jeannette Galanis. “More importantly, we’re recommitting to creating safe and healthful workplaces where miners and their families can trust that a day’s work will end with them heading home, safe and healthy. ”OSHA also launched a new Workers Memorial Page that aims to lift up the voices of workers who lost their lives on the job. A virtual Workers Memorial Wall features names and images of workers as a solemn tribute for workers’ families, friends and coworkers. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.Learn more about OSHA. ###Media Contacts: Denisha Braxton, 202-380-8259, braxton.denisha.l@dol.gov Jesse Lawder, 202-693-2840, lawder.jesse@dol.govRelease Number:  21-704-NATU.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The Department’s Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the Department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).