NIOSH Announces 6th Annual Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction

The construction of a nation, the physical labor that it takes to build and re-build, requires safe working conditions for its laborers. This year, during the week of May 6-10, thousands of employers across the country and internationally will stand down for the safety of construction workers and participate in the 6^th annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. By pausing and taking time during this important week to communicate safety policies and best practices, provide fall prevention demonstrations and training and offer talks about ways to protect from and mitigate fall hazards, employers can be at the forefront of safety while collectively participating in a campaign.

Falls are still the leading cause of death in construction accounting for one-third of on-the-job deaths in the industry. Almost two-thirds of all fatal falls are from roofs, scaffolds and ladders. Four of the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards in 2018 directly relate to falls in construction: fall protection, scaffolds, ladders and training requirements. It is clear that these fatalities are preventable.

“While small construction firms are particularly hard hit, we encourage all leaders in the construction industry to make fall prevention and the safety of construction workers their highest priority,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D.  “Addressing fall prevention saves lives, not only during the National Safety Stand-Down, but every day all year long.”

The National Safety Stand-Down is a combined effort led by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training, and has become the cornerstone of the National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction launched in 2012. Now in its 6^th year, the Stand-Down is a voluntary event that encourages employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold Stand-Down events by taking a break from work to focus on job hazards and protective measures and use the multitude of resources available to them to raise awareness. These resources include tool-box talks, guides, training, posters, infographics and videos and hard hat stickers, hazard alert cards, the NIOSH ladder safety app and aerial lift simulator. The National Roofers Contractor Association will also host three free webinars during the Stand-Down week on ladder use and setup, personal fall arrest systems and rescue techniques.

“Falls can be prevented when employers train and educate workers about these hazards properly and provide appropriate protection,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt, MBA. “This should be a priority during the first week of May and must be a priority every day. OSHA has tools readily available for employers and workers to address the prevention of fall hazards.”

For the 2019 campaign, NIOSH created three new videos to highlight motivational stories of several organizations involved in the Stand-Down: OSHA, the Kentucky FACE program and the business perspective from BrandSafway. New infographics are valuable tools for succinctly communicating the messages of fall prevention to workers, and additional resources can be found at CPWR’s one-stop Stand-Down shop.

Employers are encouraged to #StandDown4Safety, provide feedback after their events and obtain a personalized certificate of participation.