Fallen Workers Remembered
On April 29, 2012, a beautiful yet solemn commemoration took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event was Workers' Memorial Day which honors those workers who died in Allegheny County as a result of a workplace accident. 21 workers were memorialized during this year's ceremony by placing their names on an individual cross and tolling a bell for each worker.
Workers' Memorial Day has been an annual event in Pittsburgh for the past decade and is proudly sponsored and organized by the United Steelworkers, Allegheny County Labor Council, and the AFL-CIO.
A similar memorial was held recently in Charleston, West Virginia, by the AFL-CIO and Kanawha Valley Labor Council where 21 West Virginia workers who died on the job last year were honored.
Much of our lives are spent in the workplace. While at work, we principally entrust our safety to our employers, fellow workers, and oftentimes other business entities. Unfortunately, however, nearly 6,000 workers die every year as a result of workplace accidents, another 3 million suffer a work injury, and nearly 60,000 die per year as a result of occupational diseases, such as lung cancer and Mesothelioma.
Most workplace accidents and injuries are preventable. As workers, each of us has a responsibility to speak up and identify conditions that may be harmful to our safety. We should report safety concerns to our supervisors or other individuals responsible for safety. Additionally, unsafe working conditions can be reported to various governmental organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The reporting of unsafe working conditions is everybody's responsibility so please do your part to help promote your and your co-employees' safety at all times.
Oftentimes workplace accidents result in disabling injuries or wrongful death and it is important that you retain a law firm that has experience in handling these types of serious cases. The West Virginia Workplace Accident Attorneys at the Fitzsimmons Law Firm have been handling work injury cases for decades. If you or a family member have been injured in a workplace accident, contact one of our West Virginia Work Injury Lawyers to determine what rights you or your family may have.