Las Vegas, NV (April 27, 2023) – On Workers’ Memorial Day 2023, the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the Division of Industrial Relations commemorates the workers who have lost their lives due to work-related injury and illness in Nevada.
Workers’ Memorial Day is held annually on April 28, the date Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, ensuring that all workers have the right to a workplace free of preventable health and safety hazards.
According to most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data available, there were 5,190 fatal work injuries recorded in 2021 in the United States, up from 4,764 in 2020, an increase of 8.9%. In Nevada, 43 workers suffered fatal injury in 2021, up from 37 in 2020.
“On this day of remembrance, we honor and recognize those who have lost their lives on the job,” said William Gardner, Chief Administrative Officer of Nevada OSHA. “These workers are more than a statistic. They are friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Through educational outreach to employers and strategic enforcement of workplace safety standards and regulation, our collective goal must be for every worker to return home safely at the end of their shift.”
There are resources and assistance available for employers, workers, and children of workers who have suffered catastrophic injury or death.
Kids’ Chance of Nevada – This organization provides college and technical scholarships to the children of parents who were killed or severely injured in a workplace accident in Nevada, helping them achieve their educational goals. Nationally, Kids’ Chance has awarded over 9,300 scholarships, totaling over $33.2 million. To learn more, visit their website at www.kidschance.org.
Nevada Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS) – A section within the Division of Industrial Relations, SCATS mission is to keep Nevadans safe and healthy on the job. They offer free resources for employers and employees- from training, to consultation, to safety program reviews. SCATS representatives can review and make recommendations on best practices and implementation of employer protocols. To learn more about SCATS services, visit www.4safenv.state.nv.us.
Nevada OSHA – Employees who feel they have been exposed to a hazardous condition in the workplace have the right to raise their concerns with their employer or to file a complaint with Nevada OSHA. An employee who raises concerns with their employer or files an OSHA complaint is protected against retaliation or discrimination by NRS 618.445 and section 11(c) of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, Pub. L. 91-596, 84 Stat. 1590. If an employee files a complaint with Nevada OSHA, their name and contact information will be held as confidential information pursuant to NRS 618.341(3)(a). To file a complaint, please visit https://www.osha.gov/workers/file-complaint or call Nevada OSHA at (702) 486-9020 (southern Nevada) or (775) 688-3700 (northern Nevada).
About the Division of Industrial Relations:
The Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (DIR) is the principal regulatory agency responsible for workplace safety and worker protections in the state of Nevada. Comprised of five sections –Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Worker’s Compensation Section, Mechanical Compliance Section, Mine Safety and Training Section, and the Safety Consultation and Training Section – DIR works to protect Nevada’s working men and women and provides a broad scope of training and support to the regulated community. For more information, please visit http://dir.nv.gov.