The US Department of Labor’s latest annual report on worker deaths found 5,070 preventable workplace fatalities in 2024. The Trump administration’s continued dismantling of already underfunded workplace safety agencies will add to the toll of workers’ lives and limbs sacrificed for corporate profit.
At the US Postal Service, a series of deaths—including maintenance mechanic Nick Acker, mail handler Russell Scruggs Jr. and veteran worker Lucy Diaz—exposed the consequences of short staffing, inadequate medical response, and weakened safety enforcement.
Investigations pointed to disabled safety features, ignored lockout/tagout procedures and delayed emergency response. Union officials deferred to management-led inquiries that minimized responsibility.
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