WMW Resources

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

We invite you to organize an action or event to commemorate fallen workers and build awareness to promote healthy and safe workplaces.

Got an event planned? Let us know!
Here are the latest WMW events.

NEED IDEAS FOR AN ACTION? HERE ARE SOME TO GET YOU STARTED…

Large or small, actions raise public awareness that workplace injuries, illness and fatalities are NOT accidents - they are senseless, preventable tragedies. We encourage everyone who cares about worker safety and health to participate however they can. Some ideas for actions include:

In-person event ideas:

Make a Workers' Memorial Week banner, and hold/hang it where it can be widely seen;
Display posters with the faces and/or names of workers who died from work-related injuries/illnesses or injured/sick workers;
Prepare an altar dedicated to workers killed at work;
Physically distanced die-in in a park or other outdoor open area;
Installation with caskets / boots / scrubs / flowers or other representing lives lost or injuries / illnesses related to work;
Caravan for workers’ lives

Digital local event ideas:

Hold a training, teach-in, or discussion group about worker injuries and illnesses and how preventable these are.
Organize a delegation to meet with elected officials to get their support for health and safety legislation.
Get a proclamation passed in the City, County or governmental agency.
Write an op-ed or letter to the editor for your local paper, highlighting local workplace fatalities and prevention strategies
Get faith based orgs to include messaging around WMW in services close to Worker Memorial Day
Mobilize your members/networks to share their stories on social media
Connect into the National Programs to participate and share activities and build momentum
Reach out to family members who lost loved ones; include their stories in public education programs
Hold a memorial breakfast, rally, or candlelight vigil to honor the dead and fight for the living
Sponsor a worker health and safety film showing (e.g. ‘A Days Work’)
Publish and announce names of workers injured or killed on the job at public hearing (e.g. city council)

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WORKERS' MEMORIAL WEEK EVENT RESOURCES:

Every year National COSH hosts a webinar in late February or March to help those who want to take action during Workers' Memorial Week. We share ways to engage with our events and offer opportunities for event organizers to share their expertise with each other. Below is a list of resources beginning with a recording of our recent WMW webinars as well as examples of reports, guides for families of fallen workers, photos from events and sample resolutions from public officials.

2021 WMW webinar recording and slides (en español)
2020 Taking Action for WMW webinar recording and slides
2019 WMW webinar recording and slides (incluye español)
Prayers for Workers' Memorial Day
Photos from Workers' Memorial Week events
Family Resource Guide (share with families of workers who died on the job)
Guía de Recursos para la Familia
AFL-CIO Workers' Memorial Day Materials

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WORKERS’ MEMORIAL WEEK - MEDIA OUTREACH TOOLS

Whatever you choose to do to commemorate Workers Memorial Day, make sure to publicize it! Below are some templates for contacting the media. Additionally, National COSH has a social media toolkit for those wishing to mark the day via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or whatever your favorite platform may be.

National COSH Media Advisory Template (send about a week before your event, then again day or two before event)
National COSH Press Release Template (send day of event/action)
National COSH Tips for Writing Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds (send several days in advance of event/action to try to have it run day of the event/action)
2020 WMW Social Media Toolkit
Faces of 2020 Workers' Memorial Week
2019 Workers Memorial Week Social Media Toolkit

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WORKERS' MEMORIAL WEEK – REPORTS

There is no one definitive place to find information about all the people who have been killed or injured on the job so if you want to invest the time to research the names and stories of local workers, people need and want to know! (See media outreach above) Below are some tips on writing a report as well as examples of reports from recent years.

Telling Our Stories -- Tips to Writing a Workers' Memorial Week Report
Information Sources on Fatalities for Workers' Memorial Day Reports
US Worker Fatality Database (compiled by National COSH)
COVID-19 Worker Fatality Database (compiled by National COSH)
National COSH 2021 "Deadly Risks, Costly Failures" Report and toolkit
National COSH 2020 "Dirty Dozen" Report and infographics
National COSH 2020 Worker's Memorial Week "Dirty Dozen" video
National COSH 2019 "Dirty Dozen" Report and infographics
AFL-CIO 2021 "Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect" Report
AFL-CIO 2020 "Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect" Report
Local COSH Groups: Workers’ Memorial Week Reports

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WORKERS' MEMORIAL WEEK – RESOLUTIONS

You may choose to reach out to elected officials or your union to request recognition of Worker's Memorial Day to draw attention, raise awareness or add gravitas to your event. Most elected officials are happy to recognize fallen workers with a written resolution if given ample notice. Many will even attend or send a representative to speak at your event if given enough notice. Below are examples of past resolutions.

Sample Resolutions