UNITED SUPPORT & MEMORIAL FOR WORKPLACE FATALITIES
Photographs by David Y. Lee
We believe we are the missing step to preventing work related incidents, illnesses and diseases through the voices of our family member victims sharing their loss and how it has forever impacted their life. Presenting at safety conference(s), with employers virtually/in person and through our podcast/blogs & USMWF's Family Booklet their loved one's incident and the overwhelming mental, physical pain and suffering as well as the financial burden it has on those that are left behind. These are lessons learned putting the, "it can happen to you" aspect into our testimonies.
USMWF is striving to prevent/eliminate issues and reasons for occupational incidents and through our program we will also be able to research and connect sharing lessons learned to prevent work related incidents, illnesses and diseases.
USMWF is striving to prevent/eliminate issues and reasons for occupational incidents and through our program we will also be able to research and connect sharing lessons learned to prevent work related incidents, illnesses and diseases.
USMWF 2nd Annual Virtual Walkathon
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
USMWF Table Talk:
Wednesday, September 14 at 6pm cst. Email Tonya Ford at tonyaford@usmwf.org for zoom information. Face Campaign Tributes & Recognition
USMWF strives to honor, remember and recognize all of our fallen workers in our multiple tributes.
Our "Faces Campaign Tribute" was launched January 1, 2009 and is intended to give workplace fatalities a face, honor our fallen workers, gain awareness and educate the public, workers, employees, organizations and our government. We invite you to share your loved one's picture to our tributes. Click Here to share your loved one's photo with USMWF today. |
If you are a family member, worker, safety advocate, company, individual or team we invite you this September 3, 2022 (starting at 9am (cst.)) to join us as we will be walking one step at a time in memory and honor of our fallen workers, to support our family member victims, educate the public of lessons learned to prevent work related incidents, illnesses and diseases at USMWF's 2nd Virtual Walkathon to which we will go live on our USMWF Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/USMWF).
THERE IS STILL TIME TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE! Support USMWF and help us continue our efforts; August-OSHA
By: John Newquist MS, CSP, OHST, CHST, CIT, Partner at Newquist Safety Greater Chicago Area;
You Are Not Alone
We can all help prevent suicide.
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. USMWF is made of families that know and understand what you are going through today, tomorrow and for days to come. However, we are not a counseling services and although we are always here for you if you feel suicidal we urge you to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as it is only 3 important numbers away.
|
MEMORIAL CANDLES
|
Other Conferences Near You....
|
Light a candle in memory and honor of your fallen worker on special days with a small donation of $10 USMWF will create and share your memorial candle on our multiple social media pages, recognizing and remembering your loved one.
|
|
OUR MISSION
Offers support, guidance and resources to those affected by work-related injuries, illnesses or diseases. Dedicated to sharing lessons learned that leads a movement of change in promoting actions for safe and healthy working conditions. Through the collective voice of families of fallen workers and other activists, we strive for the elimination and controls of workplace hazards
– therefore preventing future tragedies.
– therefore preventing future tragedies.
OUR VISION STATEMENT
USMWF is an organized community of dedicated family member victims, a nationally recognized non-profit leader driving the transformation of the work environment to safe and healthy conditions for all employers and employees – both today and tomorrow.
|
TODAY OVER
Workers were fatally injured
in the U.S. |
IN 2019
Workers fatally injured
in the U.S. |
APPROXIMATELY
Family members affected by a loss of a loved one due to a work accident each year in the U.S.
|
You are not alone. We are here for you.
USMWF is a national support as group made up of emphatic families who have been there and understand the emotions and questions you may have regarding the loss of your family members. We know and understand the devastation which takes place in the mind, body and soul and we strive to help you and others from having to go through both the grieving process and investigative process alone. It's important that you know you are not alone.
*Please visit our Family Welcome Page
*Please visit our Family Welcome Page
ANNOUNCEMENTS
USMWF and OSHA Join Together in an Alliance
|
On April 28, 2022, Workers' Memorial Day the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and United Support and Memorial For Workplace Fatalities (USMWF) joined together to form an Alliance to promote an effective communication between OSHA and family members and loved one's of workplace fatality victims. We are collaborating together to raise awareness of workplace safety and health issues.
Through this Alliance together we will work on the following:
We thank OSHA for this opportunity and we look forward to working with you more in the future |
USMWF and University of Kentucky Research Study.
|
USMWF knows and understands first hand the devastation one goes through after a tragic, unexpected loss due to a work related incident, illness or disease. We know that grief is full of powerful emotions and many ups and downs with no time frame given till its end. We are proud to have partnered with researchers at the University of Kentucky to understand more about how a work related loss impacts family member victims.
We are asking if you have lost a loved one due to a work related incident to take the time to complete the online survey. Together we can make a difference and this truly can lead to a powerful statement and changes from us as family member victims. Click here to complete the Workplace Loss Survey. |
HONORING OUR FALLEN WORKERS
|
Justin Harrington, 27
|
Terence Wade Akard, 19
|
USMWF invites you to add the face of your loved one that you lost due to a workplace incident. For more information go to our
"Face Campaign"
"Face Campaign"
SUPPORTING & WORKING WITH USMWF
|
US Department of Labor, United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities to sign alliance to raise awareness of workplace safety
Workers Memorial Day ceremony at Nebraska Capitol Building on April 28 LINCOLN, NE – Each day, 13 people die in work-related incidents in the U.S., on average. In 2020, about 5,000 workers died in the U.S. in work-related fatalities. Tens of thousands more die of work-related diseases. On April 28, as the nation marks Workers Memorial Day, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is joining families, workers, advocates and labor organizations across the country to remember those who lost their lives on the job and recognize the impact these tragic losses have on families, co-workers and communities. In 2020, 18 workers in Nebraska lost their lives. New OSHA Directive Provides Closure for Families of the Deceased
"A new Occupational Safety and Health Administration directive aims to improve communication between OSHA and families of workers who die on the job. The new guidance updates a 2012 OSHA directive that set a procedural standard for handling worker fatalities but had since become outdated" - BDN Builder Developer News on February 15, 2022.
|
GETTING INVOLVED
USMWF is always looking for individuals and groups to help us gain awareness about workplace fatalities and injuries and offer support to family members across the United States. We have a wide range of activities such as speaking, writing letters, helping with events, hosting events and much more. We already have some Wonderful Volunteers.
USMWF SEARCHING FOR LIAISON REPRESENTATIVES USMWF is still looking for representatives in each state ready to make a difference and make workplaces safer for all as we truly could not reach our mission without the help and dedication from family members and friends such as yourself. For more information please contact Tonya Ford at tonyaford@usmwf.org USMWF PARTNERS WITH
COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY 
|
Supporting Voices
Special thank to Tammy for all the times you took to listen to me. Want to share with Brittany will be graduating from college on Thursday. One of many milestones in life - bittersweet moment that her dad is not her to see but happy that life goes on. Those taken too soon will always be remembered forever more with their footprints left on our hearts.
Still have problems with the reality. After this happened I knew from experience where the investigation was going and the "penalties" as well. I am grateful for the work USMWF does and how Tammy and crew have provided support. DCS |
If nothing else USMWF opened my eyes. Of course I knew people died on the job. What I didn't know until my husband Doug died and I joined the ranks is how many. I honestly had no idea. To also have someone who shared my outrage that the news of Doug's accident was somehow kept out of the papers and off the news. Shared in my frustration at how the employer can reduce the fines imposed by OSHA. And understood my anger about the number of times employers are permitted to appeal. It's nice to have someone who listens and understands. It still breaks my heart how the size of this group grows daily and the continued lack of regard for safety companies continue to have. I lost my brother simply because fixing a dangerous boiler was in CVR's 5 year plan. Yet that boiler had been in operation since 1959. We lost a great man because they didn't want to spend the money to fix it. There should be no acceptable risk in the workplace. Russell Mann 1967-2012. |
I can never say enough about how wonderful this organization is and how much I admire Tammy and her staff for this deeply meaningful service. On behalf of the National Association of Safety Professionals and its thousands of members I salute the USMWF.
When I lost my son, Zach in 2013 I was contacted by Mr. Wally and told about USMWF. The people are wonderful and understand what you are going through. Through them I have talked to and stay in touch with other families and they help and I hope I help as well. Thank you all! |
