Recognizes April 28, 2021, as Workers' Memorial Day in recognition of workers killed, injured, and disabled on the job.
The resolution aims to raise awareness about the unfortunate reality that thousands of American workers die annually due to workplace injuries and diseases. It also calls for renewed efforts towards enhancing safety and health protections in workplaces across the nation. This initiative aligns with collective efforts to advance measures that ensure the health and safety of workers, particularly in the wake of hazards posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate Resolution 21, introduced by Senator Barrow, recognizes April 28, 2021, as Workers' Memorial Day. The resolution serves to honor those workers who have been killed, injured, or disabled on the job, highlighting the critical importance of workplace safety. It emphasizes the historical context surrounding the establishment of Workers' Memorial Day, which came into being more than thirty years ago with the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, ensuring that every worker has the right to a safe job.
The sentiment surrounding SR21 is largely supportive, rooted in a communal desire to recognize and honor workers who face significant risks while on the job. Acknowledging Workers' Memorial Day is viewed as a necessary act of solidarity and remembrance, reinforcing the commitment to strive for better safety standards and fair compensations for victims of workplace hazards. Such recognition is widely accepted as fundamental to advocating for workers' rights.
While the resolution primarily promotes awareness and recognition, there may be contention regarding differing views on the effectiveness of existing regulations surrounding workplace safety. Some advocates may argue that more concrete legislative action is necessary beyond recognition, seeking tangible changes and enhancements in legislative requirements for workplace safety measures, policies, and compliance enforcement.