On June 2-6, OSHA will host a National Safety Stand-Down for Fall Prevention in Construction to raise awareness about the hazards of falls – the leading cause of death in the construction industry. During this week, employers and workers are asked to voluntarily stop work to discuss fall prevention, including topics such as safe work on roofs, ladders and scaffolds.
“Almost 300 construction workers were killed in falls in 2012. Thousands more were seriously injured,” said Secretary of Labor Tom Perez in a recent video statement. “Now is the time to focus on this vital safety issue. The economy is on the rebound, housing starts are on the rise, and the summer construction season is getting underway.”
The Fall Stand-Down Web page offers educational resources for employers and supervisors to use in stand-downs at their worksites, including toolbox talks, training guides, posters and other resources in both English and Spanish. After participating in the stand-down, employers can also visit the page to receive their official certification of participation. For more information about the campaign and the June stand-down, read the press release, view the Secretary’s video and visit www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown.
