(NEW YORK CITY) - Elie William, a 45-year Electrician’s Assistant working on a renovation project at the Waldorf Astoria, was the first Worker to die in New York City this year, falling 40 feet through a drywall ceiling from a suspended catwalk on January 2nd.

Labor Advocates, Elected Officials and Workers gathered earlier this week near the Park Avenue Hotel where William died to commemorate Workers Memorial Day, the annual event honoring those who died on the job in the past year. 

“Workers Memorial Day reminds us that Worker health and safety is not a luxury, like those at the Waldorf Astoria probably thought. Worker safety is a matter of life and death,” said Charlene Obernauer, who serves as the Executive Director of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, said during the ceremony.

Advocates highlighted William, originally from Haiti, had been in New York City just six weeks.

“Immigrants perform some of the most dangerous work in New York City, with some of the fewest protections. Whether they're in agriculture, delivery work, construction or meatpacking, these jobs are where workplace injuries and fatalities occur, and they're at alarming rates,” Obernauer said.

She said recent efforts by the Trump Administration to cut funding at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and to increase immigration raids puts all Workers at risk.

“When ICE raids workplaces, safety becomes secondary to survival,” Obernauer said. “Workers who might speak up about missing guardrails or faulty equipment or fake training know that visibility can mean vulnerability. These sick policies hurt immigrant families and undermine safety for everyone.”

Since last year’s Workers Memorial Day, at least 41 Workers have died on the job in New York City.

“Over forty Workers, who just like any number of you woke up in the morning, went to work healthy and did not come home to their families,” said Brendan Griffith, Chief of Staff at the New York City Central Labor Council.

Among those known to have died while at work during the past year, 16 worked in construction, making it the deadliest industry.

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Photo Collage Courtesy Of The New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council.