Worker advocates held a memorial Wednesday to honor people who lost their lives while on the job in Oregon last year. The names of 53 people were read aloud during the ceremony.
Oregon OSHA administrator Michael Wood said the actual number could be higher due to the pandemic.
“We may never know the full extent of those whose lives were lost, who lost lives of loved ones, who faced serious illness, because of workplace exposures," he said.
The event comes as workplace safety advocates are marking the 50th anniversary of the federal Occupational Health and Safety Act.