National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls Begins September 14

Each year in the U.S. more than 200 construction workers are killed and over 10,000 are seriously injured by falls. Falls are part of what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) calls the Focus Four Hazards, along with struck-bys, caught-in-between hazards and electrical hazards. These are the four leading hazards and account for more than half of construction fatalities each year.

That’s why the National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction was launched in 2012 with leadership from NIOSH, OSHA, and CPWR. The cornerstone of the campaign is the annual National Safety Stand-Down, where employers and workers take a break to focus on preventing falls. In 2020, the 7th National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls will take place September 14-18, through virtual and socially distanced Stand-Down events.

The goal of this national campaign is to prevent fatal falls by encouraging residential construction contractors to:

• Plan ahead to get the job done safely.
• Provide the right equipment.
• Train everyone to use the equipment safely.

This year, employers and workers are encouraged to participate virtually or with social distancing measures on the job site. CPWR had created a plan for employers looking for activity ideas. The PDF suggests hosting or attending a virtual events and lists a few options, outlines a number of ideas for engaging in the campaign via social media, and recommends reviewing  your written fall protection plan.

Don’t forget to check out the One-Stop Stand-Down Shop for more resources!