GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Local union and workers groups marked the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act during a ‘Workers Memorial Day’ ceremony in Green Bay on Wednesday.
Fifty years ago, that law established OSHA, which Greater Green Bay Labor Council President Steve McFarlane says was desperately needed.
“The number of deaths and seriously injured and things like asbestosis and on and on. People just weren’t coming home from work at the end of the day at all in some cases, but definitely not in as good of shape as when they went to work in the morning,” McFarlane said. “All of us grumble slightly because we have to latch on here or hook up there or do a certain process a certain way to meet those OSHA standards, but it’s meant literally tens of thousands of lives that have been saved.”
A flag is raised and bagpipes are played during a ceremony marking the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in Green Bay. (PHOTO/WTAQ News)
McFarlane says the pandemic has also highlighted the link between workplace safety, health, and the community. Mayor Eric Genrich says this year might be the most important anniversary they’ve recognized.
“Because of the year that we’ve all lived through the burden working people have borne throughout this pandemic sacrificing themselves to make sure that every day people had the necessities that we all need to carry about our lives,” Genrich said.
“So today we gather to memorialize those people who have lost their lives being essential workers are necessary workers as they had to go to work every day and be on the front lines with the coronavirus,” McFarlane added. “The people are definitely paying more attention right now to safety in the workplace and who’s actually does the work.”
113 Wisconsinites died in their workplace in 2019 alone, most of which happened in transportation-related and construction-related industries.
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