Nearly 55 years ago on April 28, the Occupational Safety and Health Act went into effect, promising every worker the right to a safe job — our fundamental right. Since then, unions have fought to make that promise a reality —  winning protections under the law that have made jobs safer and saved lives.

Each day, more than 340 workers are killed and more than 6,000 suffer injury and illness because of dangerous working conditions that are preventable. Job safety agency resources are already critically underfunded: It would take the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 185 years to inspect every workplace once. Cuts to hazard investigations take us back decades and harm workers.

Workplace safety and health rights are under threat. Under the Trump administration, new anti-regulatory attacks will prevent OSHA from setting needed job safety standards and enforcing the law. Funding and staffing cuts will make oversight on businesses nearly impossible. When no one is watching, many employers fail to do the right thing.

Last year at least 45 workers died on the job or from injuries sustained while working in Oregon. So did at least 5 workers in Clark, Cowlitz, and Lewis counties in Southwest Washington. Here are the names of those who lost their lives.

OREGON

• Marcos Alatorre Gutierrez Logging-choker setter – Struck by falling object
• Abdiwasa Alinur Truck driver – Motor vehicle accident    
• Ralph AnDyke Truck driver – Fall from height    
• Franklin Bevins Truck driver – Motor vehicle accident    
• Ginger Bevins Truck driver – Motor vehicle accident    
• Izaid Bracamontes Aparicio Arborist – Fall from height    
• Colton Brant Equipment mechanic – Struck by rolling object    
• David Breyman Truck driver – Struck by swinging object    
• Robert Byrd Heavy-equipment mechanic – Caught/compressed in equipment    
• Brian Campbell Truck driver – Motor vehicle accident    
• Curtis Cooper Truck driver – Motor vehicle accident    
• John Davenport Environmental engineer – Motor vehicle accident    
• Anthony Davis Construction flagger – Pedestrian struck by vehicle    
• Samantha Deschenes Ironworker – Pedestrian struck by equipment    
• Michael Fetch Logging-equipment operator – Motor vehicle accident    
• Daniel Foley Firefighter – Medical event    
• Michael Guarino Heavy-equipment operator – Motor vehicle accident    
• Shane Hart Landscaping worker – Fall from height    
• Jack Hemstreet Pipe layer – Struck by falling object    
• Kurt Jensen Truck-service worker – Pedestrian struck by vehicle   
• Joshua Kelvin Rideshare driver – Homicide    
• Christopher Knowles Pilot-vehicle driver – Motor vehicle accident    
• Nicholas Long Logging-choker setter – Struck by swinging object    
• Eusebio Lorenzo Gonzalez Painter – Fall from height    
• Gene Manor Taxi driver – Motor vehicle accident    
• Joshua Manuel Building-exterior cleaner – Fall from height    
• Vicente Marquez Alonso Landscaper – Exposure to electricity    
• James Maxwell Pilot – Aircraft accident    
• Walter Mulberry Security guard – Homicide    
• Jon Nichols Hunting guide – Accidental shooting    
• David Patterson Maintenance worker – Fall from height    
• Mark Ragan Firefighter – Medical event    
• Larry Rawe Pest-control worker – Fall from height    
• Jose Resendiz Vasquez Roofer – Fall from height    
• Richard Rohde Logging hook tender – Struck by rolling object    
• Adelaide Rowell Summer-camp staff – Motor vehicle accident    
• Sargis Sargsyan Truck driver – Motor vehicle accident    
• Uwe Stehnike Dump-truck driver – Motor vehicle accident    
• Yonatan Tacza Reyes Sheep herder – Motor vehicle accident    
• Joshua Thompson Conservation-program manager – Motor vehicle accident    
• James Valencourt Maintenance worker – Medical event    
• Brandon Welch Police officer – Suicide    
• Jacqueline Whitford Flight instructor – Aircraft accident    
• Curtis Womelsdorf Dump-truck driver – Pedestrian struck by vehicle    
• Jose Zapata Zea Program director – Motor vehicle accident     

SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON

• Dakota Cline  Machine operator – Crushed by pallet stacker machine
• Robert Conner  Electrician – Mesothelioma
• Curtis Cooper  Log truck driver – Motor vehicle accident 
• Drake Pilcher  Pipefitter – Accidental overdose from prescribed medications
• Timothy Russell  RV resort owner – Shot by tenant

Names were compiled by Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services and Washington Department of Labor and Industries based on worker’s compensation records, news reports, and OSHA notifications. Because confidentiality restrictions limit releasing individual names in certain cases, it’s not a complete account of all fatal accidents.

Local Workers Memorial Day observances

Each year Workers Memorial Day honors workers who lost their lives as the result of workplace injury and illness. Workers Memorial Day – April 28 – marks the date when the Occupational Safety and Health Act went into effect in 1971, protecting workers’ right to a safe job. 

PORTLAND 

Oregon State Firefighters Council, IAFF Local 43, Oregon AFL-CIO,  Northwest Oregon Labor Council, elected officials, and faith leaders in Portland will gather.

• WHEN  9:30 a.m. Monday, April 28
• WHERE  Eastbank Esplanade beside Portland Fire and Rescue Station 21, 5 SE Madison St., Portland

SALEM 

Oregon AFL-CIO will hold a ceremony at noon joined by workplace safety advocates, elected officials, and faith leaders.

• WHEN 12:30 p.m. Monday, April 28
• WHERE The Fallen Worker Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol Mall, W. Summer Street between Chemeketa and Center, Salem