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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202-693-4650
America's workplaces are safer than ever. With employment at an all-time
high, it is especially heartening to see a three percent drop in job-related
fatalities. That is good news for every employer and worker. And it's good news
for every family that sends a bread winner into the workplace and waits for him
or her to come home safe and whole at the end of the day.
We take special note of the drop in workplace homicides. Still the
second leading cause of death on the job, following highway crashes, workplace
homicides fell to the lowest level in seven years. A significant drop in
homicides occurred in retail trade, reflecting heightened awareness brought
about by the combined efforts of industry and the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, which issued recommendations in 1998 for preventing
workplace violence in late-night retail.
For our youngest workers, agricultural employment remains the most
dangerous. That is why we will continue with aggressive enforcement, creative
education efforts and innovative partnerships with this industry to ensure safe
and healthy employment for our youth. This is one of my top priorities as labor
secretary.
While we celebrate the decline in worker deaths, far too many workers
are still dying on the job. The number of fatalities due to motor vehicle
accidents and electrocutions are at their highest levels since the Bureau of
Labor Statistics' fatality census began seven years ago. Equally disturbing is
the continued high number of fatalities for construction workers and truck
drivers whose hard work too often leads to early graves.
As we near the close of this century, we are reminded that the progress
we have made is significant but not enough. America is the strongest, richest
and most powerful nation on earth, thanks in large measure to the vitality of
her workers. Protecting their safety and health safeguards the well being of
our nation.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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