By Patrick Baron

BLOOMINGTON – More than 200 names of area workers who have been killed on the job since 1850 were read at White Oak Park Friday morning for the annual Workers’ Memorial Day.

Dozens of union members and workers assembled to remember those who lost their lives while on duty.The event comes one day before the 47th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, or OSHA. Speaking at the event, Great Plains Laborers’ District Council member Mike Matejka highlighted the importance of OSHA, which provides regulations to make the workplace safer.

“It doesn’t mean people still don’t have to be careful today, but thank goodness we’ve got laws and regulations to make the workplace safer, and training for workers to ensure that they’re able to do their jobs and come home at night,” said Matejka.

But even with laws in place, Matejka said workers still need to minimize risks and take safety precautions, particularly when it comes to exposure to workplace dangers such as asbestos. He explained workers need to be mindful of what they’re doing and do what is safe and not necessarily easy.

“It’s very easy on a job site to say ‘oh I’ll take this little risk because I can be a little quicker, a little more efficient’,” Matejka explained. “But taking that little risk can sometimes cost you your life.”

Matejka said legislation and education are powerful tools in keeping workers safe.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].