Held each April, the event commemorates those who lost their lives on the job in Washington state in previous years. It serves as a reminder that preventable workplace injuries and deaths have a deep impact on the people of Washington State. Of the 97, 29 workers passed away before last year but were not included in previous ceremonies. 

The ceremony is Thursday, April 24 at 2:00 p.m., at the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries’ (L&I) headquarters building in Tumwater. 

The names of each of the workers who died will be read aloud during the ceremony. Afterward, families are invited to ring the brass bell in the Worker Memorial Garden on the grounds of L&I’s headquarters and speak about their loved ones. 

Governor Bob Ferguson, L&I Director Joel Sacks, and representatives from the Washington State Labor Council, the Association of Washington Business, and the mother of a young logger who lost his life at work will all speak at the ceremony. The public is invited to attend in person or watch live online.

“These deaths are tragic, and many are preventable,” Governor Bob Ferguson said. “We will remember these lives lost too soon, and honor them by working to ensure every workplace is safe for all Washingtonians.”

Hidden hazards lead workplace deaths
“The people we’re honoring range in age from 16 to 90. They’re men and women from all walks of life who worked in a variety of fields including construction, farming, retail, and health care,” said Director Sacks. “They were brothers and fathers, sisters and mothers — an avid hunter, a river guide, a guitar collector, classic car enthusiast, and a social services worker who dedicated his life to helping the homeless. People who contributed to their communities and are deeply missed.”

Of the workers recognized this year, 33 died from exposure to toxic chemicals, the leading cause of death. Thirteen of those had worked at Hanford. Others worked as firefighters, pipefitters, or in other industries that work with hazardous chemicals.

“We work so hard to prevent the dangers we can see,” Sacks added. “These tragedies remind us that we cannot ignore the hazards we don’t see — what we breathe and what gets on our clothes can also be deadly.” 

Motor vehicle accidents also took the lives of more than a dozen of the workers being recognized, including Washington State Trooper Chris Gadd, who was just 27 years old when a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into his vehicle.

This is the 32nd time L&I has held the annual Worker Memorial Day ceremony. It’s one of many events in April honoring fallen workers across the nation.

Details

What: Worker Memorial Day Ceremony.
When: April 24, 2025, 2 p.m. (PST).
Where: L&I Headquarters
             7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater, WA 98501
Who: Families, friends, L&I employees, and the public are invited to attend the event in person or watch the ceremony via livestream (Lni.wa.gov/workermemorialday).