“On Workers’ Memorial Day, we pause to remember the men and women who lost their lives while on the job. Each one of these deaths is a tragedy, not only for the worker’s family and friends, but also for their co-workers and community. Though workplaces are safer today than in the past, all lives are precious, and any life lost in the workplace is unacceptable. My mission as Labor Commissioner, and the goal of our dedicated staff at the N.C. Department of Labor is to eliminate, to the greatest extent possible, preventable fatalities in the workplace, but we need your help. As one of the smallest agencies in state government, we cannot do this alone. I challenge all employers to do their part to ensure their workers are properly trained before starting the job.
Workers want something simple – to be able to go to work, earn a dignified living, and return home to their families at the end of the day. No family deserves to suffer the grief of a life lost prematurely. I am committed to partnering with every employer and worker in North Carolina to offer our resources on the most effective ways to stay safe on the job. This is the least we can do to honor the sacrifice of those lives lost and to proactively prevent accidents in the future.”