Recently at the Missouri Capitol, I was once again honored to take part in the annual ceremony held to commemorate those dedicated employees who have sadly faced  injuries, illnesses and  even death due to events in the workplace that have occurred during the last year.

Workers’ Memorial Day takes place annually on April 28 and was recognized by the Legislature on April 22. Workers’ Memorial Day is an opportunity to honor those workers who have died on the job, to acknowledge the grievous suffering experienced by families and communities, and to recommit ourselves to the fight for safe and healthy workplaces for all workers. 

The Director of the Department of Labor, Ryan McKenna, welcomed more than 60 family members, recognizing 83 workers from across Missouri in the Capitol rotunda. Those in attendance observed an hour-long program that included the performance of “Amazing Grace” by Boone County Fire Protection District Pipes and Drums.  As part of the program, I recited the poem “When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou and presented each family with a dogwood sapling provided by the Department of Conservation.

While it is important to honor those whom have suffered, we must do all we can to prevent unsafe workplace conditions and prevent injuries. To help protect working Missourians, The Missouri Department of Labor administers a no-cost safety program through the Division of Labor Standards’ On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program. This program is a free and confidential service to help Missouri employers comply with federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. The On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program helps employers locate and remove hazards and create a safer workplace, without intervention by OSHA. The employer always sets the scope of the confidential visit. More information can be found at www.labor.mo.gov/onsite.

With the arrival of spring, workers are back on the roads and all around us. Please use caution when entering work zones, slow down and pull over for workers and law enforcement. Upcoming work on state highways can be found on the Missouri Department of Transportation’s website at www.modot.org.  Citizens can sign up for e-mail alerts, or download the MoDOT Traveler Information Traveler Mobile App for smartphones that includes weather, road conditions and traffic alerts. 

The journey to safe workplaces should not be taken for granted.  The great achievements across our state could not have been achieved without the worker, and our employees deserve the safest possible work environment.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those family members who lost loved ones on the job in the past year.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or (573) 751-2272, or by fax at (573) 526-7381.