This week is OSHA’s 8th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of falls from height while working in construction – a problem that persists in the industry despite increased fall protection awareness and training.
There were more than 1,100 deaths in construction in 2019, the highest level since 2011. Fatal falls to a lower level accounted for 36 percent of all construction fatalities and climbed to 401 deaths in 2019, a 25 percent increase from 2018.
This year, business leaders, labor organizations, community groups and others can participate in virtual or socially distanced Stand-Down events from May 3-7. A safety stand-down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety, according to OSHA. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on fall hazards and reinforcing the importance of fall prevention. It’s also a perfect time to discuss construction training; there are numerous OSHA training courses that can give employees the knowledge and tools needed to perform their work safely while at height.
For instance, the OSHA 10-Hour Construction Training Course covers a range of topics, including OSHA’s focus-four hazards: fall protection, struck-by, electrical and caught-in/between.
There are also dedicated fall protection construction courses like the 4-hour online Fall Protection Course that can be booked through Easybook Training. The online training course covers fall protection systems, how to select fall protection measures, OSHA standards in relation to fall protection and inspection and maintenance of fall protection systems.
For a full breakdown of Stand-Down resources, employers can visit NIOSH’s page on the National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction, the CPWR, the One Stop Stand-Down Shop, OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down site and NIOSH’s Prevent Falls in Construction webpage.
