Honoring Lives Lost and Committing to Safety on Workers' Memorial Day

On April 28, the National Safety Council joins organizations nationwide in recognizing Workers' Memorial Day. This solemn occasion honors those who died on the job and reaffirms our commitment to workplace safety.

Established by the labor movement, Workers’ Memorial Day was formally recognized in the U.S. in 1989. It’s observed on the same day OSHA was founded, underscoring the connection between strong safety standards and worker protection.

In 2023, nearly 5,300 workers lost their lives – almost 15 people every day. Behind each statistic is a person with family, friends and a future cut short. The highest fatality rates occur in construction, transportation, agriculture and manufacturing.

At NSC, we believe that every worker deserves to go home safely. That’s why we are not only remembering lives lost, but also working relentlessly to prevent future tragedies through a range of initiatives:

● Work to Zero: Using data, research and technology to help organizations eliminate workplace fatalities

● Survivor Advocate Network: A powerful community of families are turning grief into action

● SafeAtWork Pledge: A commitment to protect every worker, every shift

● Workplace Safety Resources: Practical tools and training to build a culture of safety and accountability

● Serious Incident and Fatality Prevention Model: A framework helping organizations prevent life threatening, altering or ending events 

This Workers' Memorial Day, we invite everyone — employers, employees, families and policymakers — to reflect on the cost of unsafe working conditions. Renew your commitment to creating safer, healthier workplaces. Explore resources and drive change at nsc.org/WorkersMemorialDay.

Together, we can help ensure no one has to sacrifice their life for a paycheck.