[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 154 (Tuesday, November 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF RON HAYES TOWARDS ENHANCING 
                     WORKPLACE SAFETY AND AWARENESS

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                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 30, 2010

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I am honored to bring to the attention of 
the House the work of a remarkable American and constituent of mine, 
Mr. Ron Hayes, of Fairhope, Alabama.
  As blessed as we are to be living in America, we would do well to 
remember that our society continues to be enhanced through the noble 
efforts of those who tirelessly and passionately pursue a better 
quality of life for us all. These often unsung heroes seek only the 
reward of knowing they have transformed our laws and our land for the 
better.
  I rise today to honor one such individual who has spent nearly two 
decades advocating for the safety of all Americans in the workplace and 
to provide timely moral support to the accident victims and their 
families. His efforts have made a difference.
  Ron Hayes began his journey to improve workplace safety in 1993 when 
he lost his beloved 19-year-old son, Patrick, to a grain silo accident 
in Florida. Facing tremendous emotional pain, Ron and his wife, Dot, 
sought details of their son's death as well as survivor's benefits from 
local, state and federal agencies, only to be met with delays and few 
answers. After two years of navigating the bureaucracy, they resolved 
to learn everything they could about workplace safety standards and 
sought ways to both improve job safety rules and enforcement.
  Ron Hayes' dedication resulted in the revision of the Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration's, OSHA, grain handling standards. But 
this was only the beginning.. Ron and his wife founded the Families In 
Grief Hold Together Project, a non-profit group devoted to assisting 
families and workers cope with the consequences of workplace accidents 
and deaths.
  Some 10,000 people lose their lives while working each year. Ron 
Hayes worked with OSHA to create a policy which the agency often uses 
in communicating with family members after a workplace accident.
  Since its founding, the FIGHT Project has reached out to nearly 800 
families, providing valuable help in the grieving process, negotiating 
the red tape and finally, in healing.
  Ron Hayes could have stopped there, but his dedication to improving 
worker safety has motivated him to speak to almost 50,000 workers and 
taken him to some of the largest companies in the world. He has 
testified before Congress on numerous occasions and has served as a 
special advisor to the Senate Labor Committee.
  Ron Hayes has been awarded many awards for humanitarian efforts.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of this entire House, I commend Ron Hayes' 
selfless dedication to worker safety while providing comfort and 
valuable counsel to families.
  In our society it is possible for one person, or in this case a 
husband and wife, to make a difference that will positively impact the 
lives of millions. Ron Hayes has shown us that a lone voice for good 
can not only be heard, but can change society for the better.

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