Losing A 

Loved One 

on the Job

Message from Tonya Ford

OSHA Family Liaison

The death of a loved one is one 

of the most painful things that 

can happen to a family. I know 

and understand first-hand the 

devastation you have endured as I lost a family 

member in an occupational incident in 2009.

Please contact me at a time that is convenient 

for you. I hope to ease some of your concerns 

by helping with any questions you may have in 

regard to your loved one’s incident, the inspection 

process, Workers Memorial Day and/or OSHA.

OSHA is so very sorry for your loss. We are here 

for you.

Contact

Tonya Ford, Family Liaison

U.S. Department of Labor

OSHA, Office of Communications

200 Constitution Ave NW, Rm N3647 

Washington, DC 20210

osha.gov/workers-memorial

ford.tonya.e@dol.gov

(531) 893-3409

twitter.com/OSHA_DOL

facebook.com/departmentoflabor

linkedin.com/company/

us-department-of-labor-osha

Remember...

y Everyone grieves differently.

y Grief has no timeframe and there is no right 

or wrong way to grieve.

y Common stages of grief: denial, anger, 

bargaining, depression, acceptance

y Take care of YOU.

y Get immediate help in a crisis:

– Call 911

– Call 988: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 

y Tips to help you cope with feelings of grief:

– Connect with family and friends.

– Share/create memorial items or events. 

– Acknowledge your loss and feelings of grief.

– Focus on aspects of your life that you have 

control over right now.

Honoring Our 

Fallen Workers

OSHA has created a virtual 

Workers Memorial Wall 

to honor and recognize 

those who lost their lives 

while on the job.

If you have lost a family 

member due to a workrelated incident, illness, 

or disease, share their 

photograph with us at 

remembrance@dol.gov.
Family Resources

Organizations

United Support & Memorial For Workplace 

Fatalities (USMWF): www.usmwf.org

National COSH: www.nationalcosh.org

Kids’ Chance of America:

www.kidschance.org/for-families

OSHA Establishment Search

www.osha.gov/ords/imis/inspectionNr.html

Other Agencies

Department of Justice:

www.justice.gov • (202) 514-2000

Social Security Administration: 

www.ssa.gov • (800) 772-1213

Veterans Affairs:

www.va.gov • (800) 827-1000

Wage and Hour: 

www.dol.gov/agencies/whd • (866) 487-9243

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988

Contact Your Regional OSHA Office

Region 1: (617) 565-9860

Connecticut*, Maine*, Massachusetts*, New Hampshire, 

Rhode Island, Vermont*

Region 2: (212) 337-2378

New Jersey*, New York*, Puerto Rico*, Virgin Islands*

Region 3: (215) 861-4900

District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland*, Pennsylvania, 

Virginia*, West Virginia

Region 4: (678) 237-0400

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky*, Mississippi, 

North Carolina*, South Carolina*, Tennessee*

Region 5: (312) 353-2220

Illinois*, Indiana*, Michigan*, Minnesota*, Ohio, Wisconsin

Region 6: (972) 850-4145

Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico*, Oklahoma, Texas

Region 7: (816) 283-8745

Nebraska, Iowa*, Kansas, Missouri

Region 8: (720) 264-6550

Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, 

Utah*, Wyoming*

Region 9: (415) 625-2547

American Samoa, Arizona*, California*, Guam, Hawaii*, 

Nevada*, Northern Mariana Islands

Region 10: (206) 757-6700

Alaska*, Idaho, Oregon*, Washington*

* This is one of the 29 OSHA-approved State Plans. Twenty-two State 

Plans (21 states and Puerto Rico) cover both private and state and local 

government workplaces. The other seven State Plans (Connecticut, 

Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and the Virgin 

Islands) cover state and local government workers only.

You are not alone.

What to Know and Expect

y OSHA will be investigating your loved 

one’s incident to determine if any OSHA 

standards were violated.

y Please allow us up to six months to 

complete our investigation.

y All penalty monies go directly to the United 

States Treasury; they are not part of OSHA’s 

budget or credited to the agency.

y OSHA does not issue citations solely 

because there was a workplace fatality.

y You may contact your local OSHA office to 

inquire about the status of the case or to 

ask questions.

y If you have information or evidence that 

may assist in the inspection, please share 

by writing, calling, or e-mailing the local 

OSHA office.

y The Area Director will answer your 

questions and explain the settlement 

decision at the conclusion of the inspection.

y OSHA will notify you when the case is closed.

Request Inspection File

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 

governs the release of information concerning 

incident inspections conducted by OSHA. 

When the case is closed, and upon written 

request, OSHA will provide you with the 

portions of the inspection file that may be 

released under FOIA, at no charge to you as a 

family member. Visit www.osha.gov/foia.