Official Site of The State of New Jersey

July 16, 2026

TRENTON – In an effort to better protect the crossing guards who dedicate themselves to keeping children safe, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has concluded a comprehensive statewide safety initiative that reached 5,327 crossing guards across 490 municipalities. The initiative was launched after several beloved crossing guards were tragically injured or killed while serving their communities. 

Multiple serious incidents involving crossing guards throughout the state — several of which were fatal — underscored the need to ensure every municipality has the resources to protect these dedicated members of our communities. 

“The tragic loss of crossing guards who went to work each day to keep our children safe demanded immediate action,” said Acting Labor Commissioner Kevin D. Jarvis. “While we cannot undo the tragedies that have occurred, we can honor their memory by ensuring every crossing guard in the state is provided the protection and support needed to do this important work safely.” 

NJDOL’s Office of Public Employees’ Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) launched a Local Emphasis Program (LEP) for crossing guard safety in early 2025, an enforcement strategy used to focus on specific high-hazard industries or workplaces where serious injury rates are trending upward. 

This LEP focused on all New Jersey law enforcement agencies and boards of education providing adult school crossing guard services. PEOSH enforcement field staff conducted the initiative while simultaneously performing general safety inspections in accordance with their 5-year strategic plan, as well as investigating complaints, accidents, fatalities, and whistleblower/discrimination cases. NJDOL staff also conducted two webinars for crossing guards that provided comprehensive information on health and safety, workers’ compensation, New Jersey’s wage and hour laws, and unemployment insurance. 

After yet another fatal incident, PEOSH expanded the program into an emergency sweep in May 2026, deploying nine compliance officers to reach every remaining municipality before the end of the 2025-2026 school year. During the sweep, PEOSH provided comprehensive safety documents and resources to each municipality visited, ensuring all crossing guard employers had the materials needed to protect their workers. 

“Our PEOSH team has done exceptional work responding to a clear safety issue and mobilizing quickly to reach hundreds of municipalities across the state in a matter of weeks,” said Justin Baker, Assistant Commissioner of NJDOL’s Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health (PSOSH). “Moving forward, we’ll continue building on these relationships to keep crossing guard safety a top priority.” 

As a result of the initiative: 

• 490 municipalities were visited by PEOSH compliance officers across all 21 New Jersey counties
• 5,327 crossing guards were reached with critical safety information and resources
• Nine municipalities were identified as using private contractors, with referrals made to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which has jurisdiction over private sector employers and workers 

In addition to direct outreach to municipalities and crossing guards, NJDOL launched a public awareness campaign this past April featuring billboards at high-traffic locations across the state. The campaign aimed to remind all New Jersey drivers of their shared responsibility to drive safely and attentively, especially in school zones. 

This initiative reflects Governor Sherill’s commitment to workplace safety and supports the New Jersey Target Zero Commission’s objective to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries in New Jersey by 2040. 

For more information on how public employers can help protect the safety and well-being of crossing guards, visit PEOSH Alert #39. 

For more information on the NJDOL’s Office of Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health, visit: www.nj.gov/labor/safetyandhealth/programs-services/peosh/

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