Construction Workers to Pause for Safety Stand Down on Fall Hazards

CHICAGO, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is partnering with the Builders Association, Construction Safety Council, the Chicago Area Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, construction contractors and other safety and health organizations to sponsor a 30-minute safety stand down June 12 at construction sites throughout the Chicago area.

The focus of the stand down is to raise awareness among employers and workers about the hazards of falls in construction, which are the leading cause of jobsite deaths in the construction industry.

Construction sites will stand down by voluntarily ceasing work for approximately 30 minutes to provide focused training on how falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs can be prevented by planning ahead and using the right safety equipment.

“The stand down will heighten construction workers’ awareness of and ability to identify fall hazards,” said Nick Walters, OSHA’s regional administrator in Chicago. “Training will be provided on how to use ladders, fall protection systems and other equipment safely. Builders Association-OSHA Alliance members can demonstrate leadership as well as a commitment to worker safety by participating in this safety stand down.”

In 2011, there were 262 fall fatalities out of 738 total fatalities in construction. For more information on fall protection visit http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls/factsheet.html.