Happy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day from Custodio & Dubey! Labor Day is a time to honor the hard work and dedication of workers across the nation, recognizing their contributions to our society and economy. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of safety in the workplace. As a firm that specializes in Personal Injury cases, industrial and workplace safety is very important to us. We have witnessed firsthand what can happen to hard workers when workplace safety is not prioritized. That’s why this Labor Day, we want to highlight key developments that have occurred in the workplace in the U.S. since Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894.

Early Developments

The early 1900s experienced some devastating workplace tragedies such as the 1907 Monogah mining disaster. Events like these sparked growing concern for worker safety, and led to the establishment of safety organizations such as the National Safety Council in 1913. The year 1913 also saw the creation of workers’ compensation and the U.S. Department of Labor.

In 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, was signed into law. This act introduced the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1971, which became the primary federal agency responsible for enforcing workplace safety standards.

Today’s Developments

OSHA has made a significant impact on reducing workplace injuries and fatalities since its  creation, and it has continued to make updates to its standards as new workplace hazards come to light such as chemical exposure, ergonomic injuries, heat stress, and workplace violence.

OSHA continues to evolve as new workplace hazards are addressed, but there are still hundreds of thousands of work related injuries each year. In 2022, OSHA reported that there were 5,846 fatal work injuries in the U.S., which was a 5.7% increase from the previous year. The amount of workplace injuries and illnesses was 850,000. The National Safety Council reported the estimated total for the cost of workplace injuries and fatalities in 2022 was $167 billion.

Ensuring that every employee has a secure and healthy environment to work in is not just a legal obligation but a moral one. As we celebrate this holiday, let’s commit to upholding the highest standards of workplace safety, ensuring that all workers return home safely each day.  Call our team if you need legal guidance.