On April 25th, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) will host a Worker Memorial Day ceremony, commemorating Washington workers who lost their lives due to workplace accidents or illnesses last year. Family members and friends of these fallen workers, as well as any interested members of the community, are invited to be part of this annual tribute.
When and Where the Ceremony Will Be Held
This tribute to Washington’s fallen workers will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, April 25th at The Department of Labor & Industries Tumwater, WA campus. Tumwater is in Thurston County, approximately 75 minutes southwest of the city of Seattle. The address for the event is:
What to Expect at the Ceremony
The tribute to Washington’s fallen workers will begin with an indoor service in the auditorium at L&I headquarters. This ceremony is expected to last for about an hour. All friends and family of workers being honored at the service are invited to attend. L&I staff members will also join as members of the audience.
The indoor service will be followed by a gathering around a memorial bell in the Worker Memorial Garden. The Worker Memorial Garden was created to commemorate those who gave their lives and as a reminder of the importance of a commitment to workplace safety. The name of each fallen workers will be read aloud, accompanied by family members and local firefighters ringing a bell in their memory. Invited guest speakers include Washington Governor Jay Inslee, the L&I director, and leaders of several top business and labor organizations in our state.
How to RSVP to the Ceremony
Labor & Industries requests an RSVP from those planning to attend the event. The agency’s leaders wish to greet all family members personally and ensure that everyone attending has an opportunity to talk about their loved one and discuss related issues, as desired. Family members of the fallen workers being honored are encouraged to invite as many loved ones and friends as they wish. To RSVP to the 2019 Worker Memorial Day ceremony, please email Kristi Richardson at Kristi.Richardson@Lni.wa.gov or call her office at (360) 902-4212.
Family Members Can Send a Photo and/or Submit a Written Tribute
Family members of fallen workers are also invited to send a photo of their loved one, submit a 100-word written tribute, or both. These submissions are entirely optional. Photos will be displayed during the service, and written tributes will be included in the official program for the event. To submit a photo and/or written tribute into the official program, the Department of Labor & Industries needs the information to be submitted no later than Monday, April 1st, 2019. You can submit the photo and/or tribute online by sending them to Kristi.Richardson@Lni.wa.gov. Alternatively, you can mail them directly to:
To ensure that any information submitted makes it into the program, it is recommended that you call Ms. Richardson at (360) 902-4212. If you are interested in viewing past programs and videos, you can find them on the L&I website.
We are Strong Advocates for Worker Safety
The Walthew Law Firm team is committed to advocating for worker safety in Washington. We send our deepest condolences to anyone who has lost a family member or a friend in a workplace accident. Tragically, more than 50 people were killed on the job in Washington in 2018. Even one workplace-related death is too many. Everyone in the workforce, both employers and employees, must be committed to safety and strive to bring the number of fatal workplace accidents to zero.
If you have questions or concerns about your rights on Washington’s workers’ compensation laws, please do not hesitate to contact our Seattle work injury lawyers for free and strictly confidential legal guidance.