Counting the cost of workplaces dangers

On March 26, 2022, Peter Monsini, 51, was operating a piece of heavy machinery for JDC Demolition Company, Inc. at the Government Center parking garage in Boston, when the floor underneath his machine buckled and he fell nine stories to his death. Following the incident, OSHA conducted an inspection and cited JDC for 11 violations, 8 of which were deemed “willful” and 2 “serious.” They were fined $1.1 million.

In 2023, unfortunately, there were even more workers who suffered a tragic fate like Peter’s. In total, 62 workers in Massachusetts died from workplace injury and illness, with five of them being firefighters who died from occupational cancer. It’s all outlined in a new report published by Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) in collaboration with the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.

Our report highlights several concerning statistical trends. Too many employers continue to disregard occupational health and safety, and the incidents are almost always preventable. We hope this report is a call to action for all of us to prioritize worker health and safety.