Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam

WHEREAS, Virginia’s workers are the driving force behind our successful businesses and growing economy; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry investigated thirty-six work-related fatalities last year alone; and

WHEREAS, whether they occurred at a desk or a loading dock, every worker’s death is an unmitigated tragedy and loss; and

WHEREAS, in addition to their direct victims, workplace accidents impact whole communities; and

WHEREAS, families are often emotionally and financially devastated by the loss, permanently altering the life trajectory of their children; and

WHEREAS, in addition to grief, former colleagues are required wrestle new anxieties about the safety of their work environment and continued viability of their employer; and

WHEREAS, for responsible businesses, a fatality or serious injury can cause bankruptcy or closure and increased costs in areas including workers’ compensation, health care, property damage, insurance premiums, production downtime, investigation, training, and legal fees; and

WHEREAS, every Virginian has a right to come home safe and healthy at the end of the day; and

WHEREAS, together, we can improve workplace safety and build a better future for Virginia’s workforce;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize April 28, 2019, as VIRGINIA WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.