More than 20 workers who lost their lives on the job and had ties to the Tri-Cities were honored at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries’ Workers’ Memorial Day service on April 24.

Some died recently while others died years ago but only were recently added.

The names of each of the workers who died were read aloud during the ceremony. Afterward, families were invited to ring the brass bell in the Worker Memorial Garden on the grounds of L&I’s headquarters in Tumwater and speak about their loved ones.

Of the workers recognized this year, 33 died from exposure to toxic chemicals, the leading cause of death. Thirteen of those had worked at Hanford. Others worked as firefighters, pipefitters, or in other industries that work with hazardous chemicals.

“We work so hard to prevent the dangers we can see,” said L&I Director Joel Sacks in a release. “These tragedies remind us that we cannot ignore the hazards we don’t see – what we breathe and what gets on our clothes can also be deadly.”

Motor vehicle accidents also took the lives of more than a dozen of the workers being recognized, including two men from the Tri-Cities area.

“These deaths are tragic, and many are preventable,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said in a release. “We will remember these lives lost too soon, and honor them by working to ensure every workplace is safe for all Washingtonians.”

Local workers honored included: 

Benton City

• Philip Bramson, 65, a radiation protection manager for the U.S. Department of Energy, died Jan. 8, 2001, from cancer caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Karl Christensen, 78, a millwright for Lockheed Martin Hanford Corp., died Jan. 2, 2024, from cancer caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• James Stull, 72, a pipefitter and welder for the U.S. Department of Energy, died March 4, 2016, from exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials.

Kennewick

• James Prescott, 71, a reactor operator for Energy Northwest, died April 8, 2020, from lymphoma caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Dwight Schneider, 88, metal handler and fabricator the U.S. Department of Energy, died Feb. 14, 2017, from complications due to Alzheimer’s caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Ferman Stubblefield, 90, a chemical engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy, died Feb. 14, 2024, from Parkinson’s disease caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials.
• Daniel Zarate, 25, a landscaper for Trugreen, died June 13, 2024, in a motor vehicle accident. 

Mesa

• Justin Jepson, 48, a farm equipment operator for Kaleca Inc., died March 2, 2024, in a motor vehicle accident. 

Pasco

• James Dean, 47, a truck driver for the U.S. Department of Energy, died April 21, 1993, from cancer caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Robert Dupuy, 73, a field service engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy, died May 18, 2019, from leukemia caused by exposure to radiation and hazardous materials.
• Earl Louderback, 78, a carpenter (no listed employer), died Feb. 18, 2020, from a heart attack caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Viktor Voloshin, 56, an independent truck driver, died June 7, 2024, due to toxic fumes.
• Michael Owens, 79, technician for A-One Refrigeration and Heating, died Dec. 29, 2024, from diabetic ketoacidosis and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Richland

• Robert Preston Sr., 75, a pipefitter for the U.S. Department of Energy, died Dec. 5, 2011, from cancer caused by exposure to radiological materials.
• Scott Richey, 64, a project manager for the U.S. Department of Energy, died Feb. 10, 2022, from cancer caused by exposure to radiological materials.
• Wayne Ruby, 69, a Washington state patrolman, died July 11, 2016, from cancer caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Jerome Skinner, 66, a senior contract specialist (no employer listed), died May 31, 2012, from cancer caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Randall Strickland, 69, a nuclear chemical operator for the U.S. Department of Energy, died June 27, 2023, from a brain tumor caused by exposure to chemicals and hazardous waste.
• Richard Slocum, 80, a vice president for Hanford site operations for the U.S. Department of Energy, died Jan. 20, 2023, from cancer caused by exposure to radiation and hazardous materials. 

West Richland

• Michael Munson, 63, a security officer for Babcock Services, died Feb. 16, 2017, from ALS caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Amber Rodriguez, 31, a paraeducator for Richland School District, died April 22, 2024, gunshot wounds.

The public was invited to attend the memorial in person or watch live online.