Workers’ Memorial Day ceremonies set for Friday

Iowans and state officials plan to gather Friday to recognize more than 30 people who died while on the job or from job-related injuries last year.

In 2016, 34 Iowans - including five police officers, a labor union president and a Johnson County crossing guard - died from injuries sustained while working, according to Iowa Workforce Development. Thirty-nine Iowans died due to workplace injuries in 2015.

The state hosts a Workers' Memorial Day event each year near the Capitol building in Des Moines. Similar ceremonies take place throughout the state at various locations. While the memorials specifically honor Iowans who have died, the ceremonies also are used to recognize workers who sustain injuries while on the job.

'Workers' Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember Iowans who have died in Iowa's workplaces and serving in our military in the past year,” Iowa Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro said in a statement. 'This is also a day to reflect on the lives that were lost and to renew our commitment to workers safety and health in the workplace.”

Ceremonies are scheduled for both Cedar Rapids and Iowa City on Friday.

Here is a list of times and locations for all ceremonies:

' Cedar Rapids - 5 p.m., IAM 831 Union Hall, 222 Prospect Place SW.

' Iowa City - 12:15 p.m., Fountain Plaza in the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall. In case of rain, the location is Congregational United Church of Christ, 30 N. Clinton St.

' Des Moines - 11 a.m., Iowa State Capitol, West Terrace lawn. In case of rain, the location is the Wallace State Office Building Auditorium, 502 E. Ninth St.

' Bettendorf - Noon, USW Local 105 Union Hall, 880 Devils Glen Road.

' Clinton - 1 p.m., Riverfront Park along Riverview Drive.

' Council Bluffs - 6 p.m., Bayliss Park, 100 Pearl St.

' Dubuque - 5:30 p.m., Union Labor Temple, 1610 Garfield Ave.

' Keokuk - 5:30 p.m., Keokuk Labor Temple, 301 Bondeu St.

' Sioux City - 6 p.m., UFCW #222 Hall, 3038 S. Lakeport St.

' Waterloo - 5:30 p.m., Black Hawk Labor Temple, 1695 Burton Ave.

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