Bill Text: NJ AJR87 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day."
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-15 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [AJR87 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AJR87-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Designates April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Workers have a right to a safe environment that is free from danger while at work; and
Whereas, There are almost 6,400 deaths worldwide each day from an occupational accident or disease, which amounts to approximately 2.3 million deaths globally each year due to unsafe working conditions; and
Whereas, More than 313 million workers globally suffer non-fatal work injuries annually, which amounts to almost 860,000 people suffering injuries every day; and
Whereas, There were 69 fatal work injuries in New Jersey in 2017 and thousands of other non-fatal injuries; and
Whereas, There are negative consequences for both workers and employers when a worker sustains an injury at work; and
Whereas, Workers who are injured can suffer from loss of life, loss of income, loss of job, stress on relationships, and increased health care costs; and
Whereas, Employers whose workers sustain injuries face difficulties such as a reduction in productivity, increased workers' compensation insurance costs, decline in worker morale, and decline in product quality; and
Whereas, A safe and healthy workplace produces benefits for both workers and employers such as better ability to attract and retain quality employees, production of higher quality products and services, and positive community relations; and
Whereas, It is important to raise public awareness about the importance of worker safety so that employers and workers will ensure that the workplace environment is safe and healthy; and
Whereas, By declaring April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day," the State of New Jersey encourages employers, workers, government agencies, and communities to work together to ensure that the workplace is safe and healthy; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. April 18 of each year is designated as "Worker Safety Day" in New Jersey to increase public awareness of the importance of worker safety and to encourage employers, workers, government agencies, and communities to work together to ensure that the workplace is safe and healthy.
2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe "Worker Safety Day" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates April 18 as "Worker Safety Day" in New Jersey.
Workers have a right to a safe environment that is free from danger while at work. Currently, there are almost 6,400 deaths globally every day as a result of an occupational accident or disease, which is almost 2.3 million deaths every year due to unsafe working conditions. Additionally, 313 million people worldwide suffer from non-fatal occupational injuries every year. In New Jersey, there were approximately 101 fatal work injuries in 2016 and thousands of other non-fatal injuries.
Furthermore, there are negative consequences for both workers and employers when a worker sustains an injury at work. Workers who sustain occupational injuries face consequences such as loss of life, loss of income, loss of career, and increased health care costs. Employers must contend with difficulties such as a reduction in productivity, increased workers' compensation insurance costs, decline in worker morale, and decline in product quality.
A safe and healthy workplace provides benefits to both workers and employers. It is important to raise public awareness about the importance of worker safety so that employers and workers will ensure that the workplace is safe. By declaring April 18 to be "Worker Safety Day," the State of New Jersey encourages employers, workers, government agencies, and communities to work together to ensure that the workplace is safe and healthy.
