
Education center partners of OSHA are urging construction contractors to promote and participate in OSHA's National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, according to a news release. Contractors can participate in the weeklong event, which runs from May 6 to 10, by taking breaks during the workday to emphasize the importance of fall prevention and protection to employees.
Employers have the opportunity to support OSHA's efforts to stop the high rate of fall fatalities and injuries at construction jobsites by taking the time to talk to their workers about how to eliminate or reduce fall-related job hazards.
"Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction workers, accounting for 366 of the 971 construction fatalities recorded in 2017," says Cari Elofson, Assistant Director of the OSHA Training Institute Education Center at Chabot-Las Positas Community College District in California. "Employers can help eliminate these preventable deaths by raising fall hazard awareness among their construction work crews. We urge contractors to plan a workday activity during the week of May 6-10, 2019, such as offering a toolbox talk, conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans or discussing specific jobsite hazards."
Over the last five years, thousands of companies have participated in the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, reaching millions of construction workers across all 50 states and internationally. Participants have included commercial construction companies of all sizes, residential construction contractors, sub- and independent contractors, highway construction companies, general industry employers, unions and employer's trade associations.
Read More