(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following
statement on Workers Memorial Day. This date marks the 40th anniversary of the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the effective date of
the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
“A
few weeks ago I went to the Senate floor to mark the one-year anniversary of
the terrible tragedy at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington that
claimed the lives of seven workers. These were hardworking men and women who
were taken far too young, and who are dearly missed by their families, their
friends, and their communities.
“While
we have made progress in reducing workplace tragedies, we still have a long way
to go. Every worker, in every industry, deserves to be confident that while
they are working hard and doing their jobs, their employers are doing
everything they can to protect them.
“So
on Workers Memorial Day I join with so many others in recommitting to our
efforts to make sure that workplaces are safe in every industry across America.
Because we owe that to our workers, to their families, and to communities like
Anacortes all across the country.”
Preliminary
data reveal that 4,340 workers were killed on the job nationwide in 2009—an
average of 12 workers a day—and an estimated 50,000 died of occupational
diseases. More than 4.1 million work-related injuries and illnesses were
reported in workplaces. But this likely understates the problem; reports
indicate the true toll of job injuries is two to three time greater, meaning
that the actual number of job injuries and illnesses is more likely 8 million
to 12 million per year.
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