By: Najla Alexander
Middlesex County officials announced that 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 construction site of the Health & Life Science Exchange (HELIX) on Paterson Street, New Brunswick, on Tuesday, April 28.
MCPO officials said the event honored and remembered workers who have lost their lives to workplace hazards and advocated for safer, healthier work environments for employees everywhere.
Workers Memorial Day was established nationally in 1989 in honor of the date the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 went into effect, officials said. 
“Middlesex County remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring every worker has safe, healthy conditions on the job,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios.
“Yet recent cuts to the federal workforce — and ongoing attempts to reduce OSHA’s budget — threaten to undermine those protections and put workers’ lives at risk. As a former President of the AFL-CIO Oak Island Local 6965, I stand proudly with our union brothers and sisters in honoring workers who tragically lost their lives due to workplace incidents. Middlesex County will never forget their sacrifices, and we will continue to fight tirelessly for strong safety standards and healthy working conditions for all.”
Speakers included Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios; New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin; New Brunswick Mayor Jim M. Cahill; Patricia Jones, Area Director, OSHA Avenel Area Office; Bobby Davis, IUOE Local 825, Middlesex County Building and Construction Trades Council President; and Todd Vachon, Middlesex County AFL-CIO Continuing Labor Council President.