Dave Schenck plays Taps

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- In recognition of Workers Memorial Day, the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners gathered with local dignitaries, representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and leaders from organized labor at the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center Institute on Friday, April 28.

“Workers Memorial Day is dedicated to those workers who lost their lives during the past year, and in previous years, as a result of work-related incidents or illnesses. Here in Middlesex County, we tragically lost six workers in 2022,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “The loss of even one worker is too many and is felt deeply by all of us. We will continue to remember them in the years to come. But our mission remains the same: We must mourn the dead but fight for the living.”

Speakers include Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios; Kevin Duncan, President of the Middlesex County Building and Construction Trade Council; Wayne Martiak, President of the Middlesex-Somerset County Central Labor Council; and Patricia Jones, Area Director U.S. Department of Labor/OSHA, Avenel Area Office.

Held annually on April 28, Workers Memorial Day was established nationally in 1989 in honor of the date the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 went into effect.

Middlesex County is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, three universities, 19 park systems, and world-class healthcare and research facilities making it one of the nation’s most dynamic regions and a leader in technology, transportation, the arts, and food innovation. As one of the most diverse populations in the country, Middlesex County is home to over 860,000 residents living throughout 25 municipalities. The County's award-winning Middlesex County Magnet Schools system and two-year Middlesex College uphold its position as #1 in the state for best schools, offering secondary and postsecondary education and workforce development programs that create a unique ecosystem in which opportunities abound. Conveniently located between New York and Philadelphia, Middlesex County is a leading destination for businesses and residents alike to live, work, and play – and has been since the 17th century.

Patricia Jones; OSHA Avenel Director