Workers’ Memorial Day Stresses the Importance of Occupational Health & Safety

LANSING, Mich. - April 29, 2015 - PRLog -- According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), nearly four million workers are injured or made sick at work and more than four thousand die from preventable work-related injuries or illnesses every year.  To honor those who have died on the job or have been injured or sickened, April 28^th has been designated as Workers’ Memorial Day.

This important day of recognition began in Canada and was later adopted in the United States in 1989.  Today, Workers’ Memorial Day is observed in countries across the globe.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing “safe and healthful working conditions” for their workers.  On the frontline, working to achieve this goal of creating a healthy and safe work environment, are thousands of dedicated Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs).  Today, CIHs are employed in countries worldwide and have proven to be instrumental in helping private employers, institutions and government agencies improve work environments for health and safety.

“Worker’s Memorial Day is a time for recognizing the inherent risks and potential hazards that many workers face each day,” said Nicole Greeson, CIH^® and Chair of ABIH^®.  “Preventing conditions that result in deaths, illnesses and injuries has to be of the highest priority.  The dedication of CIHs, who have demonstrated their level of knowledge and experience by achieving certification, has been a key component in helping to make the work environment a safer place for millions of workers and the general public.  We encourage those tasked with ensuring worker health and safety to look to the expertise of Certified Industrial Hygienists to ensure their workers do not become another statistic.”

To learn more about the American Board of Industrial Hygiene^®, Certified Industrial Hygienist^® credential or to locate a CIH^® to perform industrial hygiene services, please visit www.ABIH.org, email abih@ABIH.org or call (517) 321-2638.

About the American Board of Industrial Hygiene^®

Since 1960, ABIH^®, a not-for-profit corporation, has been the world's largest, premier organization for certifying professionals in the practice of industrial hygiene. ABIH^® is responsible for ensuring high-quality certification including education, experience, examination, certification maintenance and ethics enforcement.  Currently, more than 6800 people are certified to use the CIH^® designation.