On April 28, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) hosted an event at the H.B. Zachry Training Center in San Antonio to honor workers killed or injured in the past year. Since 1989, April 28 has been recognized as International Workers’ Memorial Day, a day to honor those killed, disabled or injured by their work. It is also a time to acknowledge the impact of these losses on families, co-workers and communities and to re-commit to workplace safety.
In attendance at this year’s event were Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) district office members, community leaders and family and friends of fallen workers. OSHA Area Director Alejandro Porter listed the 12 workers in the San Antonio area who lost their lives in work-related accidents over the past year. Bryan Daniel, Texas Workforce Commission Chairman, spoke on the importance of caring for one another’s safety in the workplace.
Lydia Hernandez, Mayor of Somerset, described how safety and health should be core values at every place of business, stating, “As a community leader, I stand united with TEEX and OSHA. Every worker is more than a number and is a valuable member of society.”
TEEX Director David Coatney spoke at the event, saying, “Loss should never be part of the culture; safety should be part of the culture. Safety should flow through our veins, just like our blood, and we should be thinking about it every day.” He explained that losses have a ripple effect throughout the organization. “A loss does not only affect co-workers, but it greatly affects the family and the community.”
About the H.B. Zachry Training Center The H.B. Zachry Training Center is TEEX’s 40-acre training campus in southeast San Antonio, Texas. Students develop hands-on skills and knowledge that prepares them for their environmental health & safety careers.
Distributed by:
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
Vita Vaughn | Director of Marketing and Communications/CMO
[email protected]