When Margaret (Peg) Seminario secured an internship with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) in 1977, she began a career that now spans over a quarter century with the organisation. In the decades since, she has established herself as a strong labour activist, particularly for her dedication to the promulgation of an ergonomics standard.

“…too many workers indeed are being hurt, are suffering, are in pain, are being disabled by musculoskeletal diseases related to their work.”

Seminario is Director of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health for the AFL-CIO, a federation of 65 national and international unions representing 13 million working men and women and their families. She has participated in a wide range of regulatory and legislative initiatives, including air contamination regulations, legislative reform of the 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act, and 20 OSHA rule makings, including those on benzene, beryllium, lead, cancer policy, hazard communication, hearing conservation, formaldehyde, asbestos, air contaminants, respiratory protection, grain handling, hazardous waste operations, and ergonomics.