Designates April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day."

SJR138

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 138

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 11, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

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 over 8,000 deaths worldwide each day from
an occupational accident or disease, which amounts to approximately 2.93
million deaths globally each year due to unsafe working conditions; and

Whereas,
More than 395 million workers globally suffer
non-fatal work injuries annually, which amounts to over a million people
suffering injuries every day; and

Whereas,
There were 81 fatal work injuries in New Jersey in 2023
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 over 8,000 deaths globally every day as a result of an occupational accident
or disease, which is almost 2.93 million deaths every year due to unsafe
working conditions. Additionally, 395 million people worldwide suffer from
non-fatal occupational injuries every year. In New Jersey, there were
approximately 81 fatal work injuries in 2023 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.