Workers Memorial Day, National Work Zone Awareness Week and National Stand Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents

March 30, 2026

The week of April 20-24, 2026, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be hosting Workers Memorial Day training, discussion panels and memorial ceremonies throughout the week, and will also be supporting two other initiatives that are related to one another during the week — National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) and the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents. Below is information on all these events and the resources and webinars related to each.

Workers Memorial Day is an annual event to honor, remember and recognize our fallen and injured workers, while standing with those that are left behind. This year, OSHA will host events throughout the week, including:

• Stand up for Safety and Health In-Person Training in the Department of Labor (DOL) Frances Perkins Building (Washington, D.C.) on April 20–22. Register here to join us and connect in person with U.S. Department of Labor agencies, alliances and families of our fallen workers by visiting with our exhibitors and meeting our presenters.
• Stand up for Safety and Health Virtual Training on April 20–22. Learn more about and register for virtual training on Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3.
• Worker Memorial Vigil and Ceremonies on April 23 at the DOL Frances Perkins Building and Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pond (Washington, D.C.). Learn more and register here.
• Workers Memorial Panel Discussion — Voices of Those Left Behind in-person at the DOL Frances Perkins Building and virtually on April 24. Learn more and register here.

National Work Zone Awareness Week is an annual event promoting work zone safety across the country. Led by the American Traffic Safey Services Association (ATSSA) (in conjunction with state and federal agencies) this campaign encourages drivers to slow down, stay focused and use extra caution when approaching and passing through a roadway work zone. ​This year’s theme is “Safe Actions Save Lives”. In 2023, 899 people died in work zones and 82 highway worker fatalities occurred in road construction sites. OSHA, through its longstanding Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners National Alliance, supports the event and encourages participation each day of the week, as follows:

Work Zone Safety Training Day (April 20) — Pause during the workday for safety demonstrations, discussions about safety policies/prevention steps to protect people in work zones.

• April 21 — Stand Down Kickoff: Host/participate in state/local events or live-stream the national event (with Connecticut Department of Transportation, invitation only, live streamed).
• April 22 — Go Orange Day: Wear orange to show support for work zone safety and the families of victims who lost their lives in work zones; share photos on social media using #NWZAW and #Orange4Safety.
• April 23 — Social Media Storm: Share content on social media using #NWZAW and #WorkZoneSafety between 9 am - 4 pm EST.
• April 24 — Moment of Silence: Pause during the workday to remember the men, women and children who have lost their lives in work zone incidents.

For more information, visit nwzaw.org. A promotion guide, planning guide, and poster are available for outreach purposes. In advance of the week, consider attending the following webinars:

• “Work Zone Traffic Safety Planning for Supervisors” on Tuesday, April 7 @ 1:00 p.m. ET: Developed by the Association of General Contractors and OSHA’s San Francisco Regional Office through OSHA’s Alliance Program, this webinar reviews a work zone traffic fatality and OSHA citation that transformed a company's approach, and discusses how to develop internal traffic control plans for various sites, with templates and resources provided. Please register here

The National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents is held annually during NWZAW to raise awareness of struck-by hazards, which may include falling and flying objects, vehicles and heavy equipment, and crane swing hazards. These incidents are the number one cause of nonfatal injuries in construction and the leading cause of death among heavy and civil construction workers. Fortunately, they can be avoided by careful planning, training and the use of controls. Plan or participate in a stand-down event by taking a break to focus on struck-by hazards and reinforce the importance of training and prevention:

• Use the outreach, educational and stand-down materials developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), CPWR — Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) and Construction Sector Council available here, including infographics, toolbox talks and recordings of previous events and webinars, to plan and conduct a stand-down at your worksite.
• Join a webinar on Use of Positive Protection Devices for Work Zone Safety on Monday, April 20 at 1:00 p.m. ET. This CPWR and Association of Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) webinar discusses the use of positive protection to keep workers safe in roadway construction work zones and provides an overview of recent changes to the Federal Highway Administration’s Work Zone Safety and Mobility rule, the practical application of this rule and plans for its implementation. Please register here.