ASSEMBLY LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION No. 87

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 15, 2021

      The Assembly Labor Committee reports favorably Assembly Joint Resolution No. 87.

      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.