Several Tri-Citians were among those honored during a Worker Memorial Day ceremony organized by the state Department of Labor & Industries, or L&I.

They include an agronomist who died in a car wreck and several people who died of cancer related to on-the-job exposures. A total of 93 workers from around the state were honored during the April 25 ceremony at L&I’s headquarters in Tumwater.

Most died in the last year, although some died earlier but were not previously recognized.

“The names of the 93 workers remembered this year are a grief-filled reminder of why we stress workplace safety,” said L&I Director Joel Sacks in a statement.

“Government, business and labor must do all we can to increase safety in every business and on every job site. No family member, friend or coworker should have to endure such loss when we know these deaths are preventable,” he said.

Toxic chemical and radiation exposure, falls and car wrecks were among the leading causes of the work-related deaths, the L&I statement said.

As for industries, construction saw 13 deaths.

The agricultural industry accounted for 11 deaths, nine of the deaths were transportation-related, and firefighting accounted for five deaths, the L&I statement said.

The Tri-Cities workers honored during the ceremony included:

• Kim Barton, 48, of Richland, a radiation control technician who died in 2013 from occupationally-related metastatic carcinoma.
• Perejitei Bekewe, 36, Richland, an agronomist who died in 2023 in a car wreck.
• Samual Cartmell, 34, of Richland, an environmental engineer who died in 2022 from occupationally-related metastatic carcinoma.
• Joseph Cole, 60, of Kennewick, a manager, who died by suicide in 2022. He experienced workplace claim-related depression.
• Mark Jelinek, 71, of Richland, a carpenter who died in 2023 from metastatic carcinoma caused by exposure to hazardous waste in a nuclear plant.
• Danny Legard Sr., 71, of Richland, a truck driver who died in 2022 from occupationally-related bone cancer caused by exposure to chemicals and fumes.
• Ronald Lehrschall, 55, of Richland, a nuclear safety engineer who died in 2006 of brain cancer from being occupationally exposed.
• Jerry Posey Sr., 66, Kennewick, an electrician who died in 2005 of lung cancer from exposure to radiological hazardous waste.
• Jesse Rumsey, 57, of Pasco, a pipefitter who died in 2010 of sarcoma related to occupational exposure.
• Joe Valdez Jr., 64, of Pasco, a health physics technician who died in 2022 of cancer related to years working at radiological hazardous facility.
• Michael Wall, 61, of Pasco, a health physics technician who died in 2022 from multiple myeloma related to his job.