OSHA Honors Fallen Roofers on Workers Memorial Day

Hundreds of roofers and construction workers in more than a dozen sates will participate in annual Workers Memorial Day events April 28.

The Department of Labor will celebrate Workers Memorial Day on April 28, 2024. — The Department of Labor held its first ‘Workers Memorial Day’ in 1970 when nearly 38 workers died each day on the job; today, that number is closer to 15. Celebrations will take place nationwide and in Washington, D.C.
— Image courtesy of OSHA; Bryan Gottlieb for RSP

Roofing contractors across the country will honor those who lost their lives on the job during Workers Memorial Day April 28.

Workplace falls remain one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities, and falls account for more than a third of workplace fatalities across America, recent data shows. Each year, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) encourages roofing and construction companies who have lost employees, along with their loved ones, during its national Workers Memorial program. It’s also a time to renew commitments to promote safety through training and education to protecting those still on the job.

According to the OSHA website, 18 states and Puerto Rico have at least one coordinated event planned to honor fallen workers on April 28. The event follows a nationwide string of vigils and Workers Memorial events throughout the final week of April, including safety and health trainings, panel discussions, and interactive exhibits to help contractors stay informed.

Assistant Secretary for OSHA Dave Keeling also recently posted a video in conjunction with Construction Safety Week for the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls, highlighting how preventable falls continue to be a leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities. You can watch the brief video here.

The memorial also leads the way to the National Safety Stand-Down May 4-8 to raise fall hazard awareness across the roofing and construction industries in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries. Learn more on the OSHA website.