More than one Massachusetts worker died weekly on the job last year, according to a report released yesterday by workplace safety advocates who rallied at the State House for stronger safety measures.
Of the 66 workers on the list was an MBTA train operator killed in a D Line crash, a Brighton art teacher murdered by a former student, and Robert Harvey, a Quincy iron worker buried by debris from a crane collapse.
Harvey’s wife is expected to give birth to their son and only child in two weeks.
“Not only did we lose our cherished son,” said Harvey’s father, Robert Sr. “We lost a brother, uncle, friend and a father.”
The report, released to mark Workers’ Memorial Day, said that for each worker killed on the job 10 more die from occupational diseases. A coalition of safety advocates seeks stricter federal workplace regulations, including criminal charges for employers who endanger their workers.
A separate measure was satisfied this week when Gov. Deval Patrick extended federal regulations to state employees, who had been unprotected since workplace safety standards were enacted nationally in 1970.
Others have taken their own steps in memory of lost loved ones.
The family of Robert Augeri, a father of four who was killed when a dump truck backed over him at a construction site, is promoting the use of reverse technologies on construction vehicles. Augeri wore reflective material at a secure site, yet still fell victim.
“How does that happen? I’ll never understand that,” said Chris Augeri, Robert’s father.