USMWF

Because going to work shouldn't be a grave mistake!

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Founding President/Executive Director

Tammy Miser

Tammy Miser is the Founding President and Executive Director of United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF). USMWF is a non-profit organization that seeks to prevent workplace fatalities, support those affected by workplace deaths, fight for workplace protections and victims’ rights and instruct individuals and best family outreach and best safety practices practices.

In 2003, Miser’s 33-year-old brother, Shawn Boone suffered burns over 90 percent of his body while working as maintenance worker at Hayes Lemmerz International in an aluminum dust explosion; he later died.

Using her darkest hours to help others, Tammy has shared her experience as a family-member victim who, like thousands of others across the U.S., suffers profoundly because of our nation’s inadequate regulatory system and its failure to protect workers’ fundamental right to a place of employment without death, injury or disease.

During Tammy’s struggle to obtain information in the OSHA investigative process it became clear that there was a need to form a central location for families who we experiencing a workplace death.

Tammy Miser's role at USMWF has been to promote family involvement, transparency and fairness in the investigative systems, improving workplace protections and the workers compensation system, offer support, guidance and resources to families who died from a work-related causes, provide leadership and research, and to instruct individuals and organizations in dealing with families and loss.

In November 2007, USMWF was recognized by the Occupational Health and Safety Section of the American Public Health Association with the Tony Mazzocchi Award. This distinction recognizes grassroots activists fighting for the health and safety rights of workers. It is named after Mr. Tony Mazzocchi, an influential labor leader who played a key role in legislative struggles including the passage of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, and dedicated his life to securing workers’ health and safety rights.

Tammy Miser testified on March 12, 2008 at a hearing of the House of Representatives’ Education and Labor Committee on “The Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008” (H.R. 5522); the bill passed the House of Representatives on April 30, 2008 by a 247-165 vote. Ms. Miser has also been interviewed and quoted in local and national newspapers and magazines, including an April 30, 2008 article in The Nation and the March 24, 2008 issue of Chemical and Engineering News, and finally, the CBS news magazinethe CBS news magazine 60 Minutes aired a segment entitled “Is Enough Done to Stop Explosive Dust” (June 7, 2008) which featured Ms. Miser. The program focused on the February 2008 explosion at the Imperial Sugar Refinery, which fatally burned 13 workers, and highlighted the deficiencies in our federal and state workplace hazard prevention programs. Tammy Miser shared her experience as a family- member victim who, like thousands of others across the U.S. , suffer profoundly because of our nation’s inadequate regulatory system to protect workers’ fundamental right to places of employment that do not cause death, injury or disease.

In the fall of 2007, USMWF families and worker health and safety advocates released the Family Bill of Rights for victims of workplace fatalities. In 2009, when Members of Congress introduced the Protecting America's Workers Act, parts of USMWF's Family Bill of Rights were included in the legislation (111th Congress, H.R. 2067 and S. 1580). The bills did not pass, but a similar version was introduced again in the 112th Congress (H.R. 190). USMWF is also proud that family- member victims of workplace fatalities in Canada and Australia were inspired by our Family Bill of Rights, and they created their own family support organizations.

Moral and Monetary Supporters In Gaining Non-Profit Status

Patience Buck Clarry -
In Loving Memory of Scott Clarry

Merle Jeffries -
In Loving Memory of Ray Gonzalez Jr.

Mary Gonzalez -
For Ray (November 12th)

Mary Joanna Gonzalez -
In Memory of Ray Gonzalez, Love you Daddy!

Jordan and Jessie Barab -
Founder and Activist for workplace safety and health

Celeste Monforton -
A special USMWF friend
Melissa King -
In Loving Memory of Paul King

Patricia and Donald Smith -
In loving memory of Donald Wilcher Smith

Peter Dooley -
LaborSafe

Mary Gonzalez - For Ray, Mary

Mark Miser-
In loving Memory of Shawn Boone

Mary Vivenzi -
In loving memory of Kevin Scott Noah hereAmie Knorr

Baxter, Dr. David J.

Betsy Shonkwiler In Memory of Robert (Bob) Shonkwiler

Brenda Rea, In Memory of Brian Edward Rea

Donna Spadaro In Memory of Gary Spadaro

Edward Misamore

Kelly Heilert

Liz Karels

Mandy Winans in Memory of Marshall C. Winans

Mary Vivensi

Mark Miser

Katherine Rodriguez -
For you Daddy in loving memory of Raymundo C. Gonzalez

Mary Gonzalez -
In Loving Memory of Raymundo C. Gonzalez Jr.

Jennifer Ornelas -
In loving memory of Raymundo C. Gonzalez Jr. We will never let them forget Daddy. I love you.

Michele F. Cabot -
In loving memory of my husband Paul Marlo Cabot

Steve and Melinda Schmidt, Stephanie Shay -
In Memory of Brandon W. Shay

Patrice Woeppel, Ed. D.
A special USMWF Friend

Donna Spadaro MD -
In Memory of Gary Spadaro

Amy Kaufman -
National COSH

Melissa King -
In Loving Memory of Paul King

Debbie King -
In Loving Memory of Paul King
Megan Miser

Paul Harris

Phyllis Oliver

Roger Cook of NYCOCH

Susan Ruhl

Sheena Miser

Sharon E Nichols

Theresa V. Wilson, M.Ed.

Tom Hardin, NASP

Wanda DeJesus Morillo

Martha Youngblood In memory of Dave Youngblood

The Sobering Facts: Workplace Injury, Illness and Death

Each day millions of fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters leave their homes for another day of work. They work in retail stores, restaurants, mines, hospitals, and countless other industries. They work to provide for their families, save for the future, and be part of a better Society. Tragically, many of these workers and their loved ones have no idea that simply going to work may jeopardize their limbs and life.

According to the US Department of Labor, in 2005, 4.2 million non- fatal injuries and illnesses were reported in private industry workplaces. In 2006, 5,703 US workers were fatally injured on the job.

Behind each one of these injured, sickened or killed workers is a family in mourning – a family in need of answers, resources, and support. Together we have an amazingly unique opportunity of empowering the surviving family members of our Nation’s workplace, thus strengthening the rights of workers and their families. Our future plans are to:

* Provide information and education to family members by turning the Resource Guide into a step by step training manual on what the families need to know and do after a loss. * Provide scholarships for families desiring to attend hearings and events that will protect and improve workers and their family’s rights. * Strengthen our presence by further our family outreach with initial contact and guidance. * Enhance the USMWF's web site so that others may add their own tribute and contact other families with the same interest.

Occupational Tragedies and their Impact on Families

Not surprisingly, families too often find little support from government officials when they inquire into how the workplace incident occurred. In spite of their loss and overwhelming frustration with the investigative system, family members are banding together to advocate for safer and healthier work environments. These family members are committed to calling attention to occupational dangers not only to honor their loved ones, but also to prevent other families from experiencing the pain and confusion associated with workplace injury, illness, and death.

We have done a lot through our efforts with very little resources. Just imagine what we could do if we had more funding and resources! We need to do much more and we need your help! One of our big successes this year has been gaining our Non-Profit status as an organization so that any contributions you make are tax deductible. We are in the process of applying for grants and we will continue with all avenues to build the organization.