United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF) is a national, family based, grassroot organization that offers support, guidance and resources to those affected by work-related injuries, illnesses and diseases.
USMWF guides and assists workers and family member victims in becoming the voice of change at the Federal and State levels to improve workplace health, safety and victim rights. Throughout our work, passion and dedication for family member victims/injured workers we have heard and found many concerning issues that are plaguing all workers. A few are:
Over 13 years USMWF has established connections with family member victims that know firsthand the problems of our workers/family member victims and are the voice of change. Together we continue to grow and improve workplaces for all workers. We have a proven track record and these are just a few of our accomplishments:
USMWF guides and assists workers and family member victims in becoming the voice of change at the Federal and State levels to improve workplace health, safety and victim rights. Throughout our work, passion and dedication for family member victims/injured workers we have heard and found many concerning issues that are plaguing all workers. A few are:
Over 13 years USMWF has established connections with family member victims that know firsthand the problems of our workers/family member victims and are the voice of change. Together we continue to grow and improve workplaces for all workers. We have a proven track record and these are just a few of our accomplishments:
- USMWF collaborated with Federal OSHA creating a directive explaining communications with victims' families https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/trade/04172012;
- Establishing a new Crane and Derrick standard with the help of Diane Lillicrap who lost her son Steven in February 2009 while working for Ben Hur Construction in St. Louis, Missouri. He died while disassembling a 100 ton crane https://www.usmwf.org/l.html https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/trade/11092017 final rule
- Collaboration in HB406 and HB1171 (New Hampshire) OSHA coverage for all workers;
- Supported LB963 (Nebraska) changing Workers' Compensation provisions for injuries to first responders and frontline state employees and increased burial expenses;
- Aided in enacting HB1341 (Indiana) any standard resulting in an employee fatality will be assessed $9,472 and up to $132,598 for civil penalties;
- Family member victims testified at multiple hearings, quoted in articles and interviewed both statewide and nationally https://www.usmwf.org/press.html .
- Tammy Miser Testimony - Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending Committee on Oversight and Government Reform U.S. House of Representatives
- Tammy Miser Testimony- Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Committee on Education and the Workforce U.S. House of Representatives
- Tammy Miser Testimony - Employment and Workplace Subcommittee of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee “Introducing Meaningful Incentives for Safe Workplaces and Meaningful Roles for Victims and Families”
- Tammy Miser Testimony - House of Representatives, Education and Labor Committee hearing on HR 5522 "The Combustible Dust Fire and Explosion Prevention Act of 2008."
- Testimony of Tonya Ford, Whistleblower and Victim's Rights Provisions of H.R. 2067 The Protecting America’s Workers Act before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections April 28, 2010
Representatives and Achievements:
Tammy (Miser) Spivey
USMWF Founder, Former President and USMWF Family Member
Ms. Spivey resides in Hustonville, KY and was the Executive Director/Assistant Director of USMWF. Ms. Spivey started USMWF in 2003 after her 33-year-old brother, Shawn Boone, was killed at Hayes-Lemmerz in Huntington, Indiana.
Tammy has appeared on 60 Minutes, been interviewed and quoted in local and national newspapers and magazines, given numerous congressional testimonies, given feedback to OSHA on several occasions, spoke in many forums, given training and received multiple awards for her grassroots efforts.
To read more about Rena Harrington and the work she did with USMWF go to https://www.usmwf.org/tammy.htmlwww.usmwf.org/tammy.html
USMWF Founder, Former President and USMWF Family Member
Ms. Spivey resides in Hustonville, KY and was the Executive Director/Assistant Director of USMWF. Ms. Spivey started USMWF in 2003 after her 33-year-old brother, Shawn Boone, was killed at Hayes-Lemmerz in Huntington, Indiana.
Tammy has appeared on 60 Minutes, been interviewed and quoted in local and national newspapers and magazines, given numerous congressional testimonies, given feedback to OSHA on several occasions, spoke in many forums, given training and received multiple awards for her grassroots efforts.
To read more about Rena Harrington and the work she did with USMWF go to https://www.usmwf.org/tammy.htmlwww.usmwf.org/tammy.html
Tonya Ford
Former Board Secretary/Vice President/President and USMWF Family Member
Ms. Ford resides in Lincoln, NE and was the Executive Director of USMWF. Ms. Ford became an active volunteer for USMWF in 2009 after her 51-year-old Uncle Robert (Bobby) Fitch was killed at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Tonya volunteered her time and held a position on USMWF's Board from 2010 to 2023 of Secretary, Vice President and was honored to be appointed President on October 2022 and serve to January of 2023. Ms. Ford also was honored to be USMWF's Executive Director 2019-2023.
Tonya testified at Congressional Hearings, OSHA Listens, hosted the first Worker Safety Awareness Expo in NE and hosts a longstanding Workers Memorial Day Vigil (State of Nebraska and National Virtual Ceremony) over the years of working with USMWF.
July 2021 Ms. Ford was honored to be appointed as a Public Representative on The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH).
To read more about Tonya Ford and the work she did with USMWF go to https://www.usmwf.org/tonya-ford.html
Former Board Secretary/Vice President/President and USMWF Family Member
Ms. Ford resides in Lincoln, NE and was the Executive Director of USMWF. Ms. Ford became an active volunteer for USMWF in 2009 after her 51-year-old Uncle Robert (Bobby) Fitch was killed at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Tonya volunteered her time and held a position on USMWF's Board from 2010 to 2023 of Secretary, Vice President and was honored to be appointed President on October 2022 and serve to January of 2023. Ms. Ford also was honored to be USMWF's Executive Director 2019-2023.
Tonya testified at Congressional Hearings, OSHA Listens, hosted the first Worker Safety Awareness Expo in NE and hosts a longstanding Workers Memorial Day Vigil (State of Nebraska and National Virtual Ceremony) over the years of working with USMWF.
July 2021 Ms. Ford was honored to be appointed as a Public Representative on The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH).
To read more about Tonya Ford and the work she did with USMWF go to https://www.usmwf.org/tonya-ford.html
