Have you heard that May 4-15, 2015 marks the second annual National Safety Stand Down to Prevent Falls in Construction? OSHA began this awareness campaign due to falls from elevation being the leading cause of death for construction workers.
Employers from any industry are encouraged to participate in this event by holding a Safety Stand-Down to review fall hazards and the importance of fall prevention, but what does that mean? OSHA says that a Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. This can encompass training, holding toolbox talks, demonstrations, inspecting safety equipment, showing videos, or any other means to reach out to employees and gain their attention. There are fall prevention resources available on OSHA’s website to support employers in their efforts.
If you have not already done so, now is the time to review your fall prevention program to evaluate the types of falls that could happen, including falls from ladders, stairs, scaffolds, roofs, etc., how they are prevented, and any improvements that could be implemented.
The focus of this National Safety Stand-Down is to prevent falls in construction, but this event also serves as a reminder to all of us to initiate events throughout the year to promote worker safety. A great way to promote worker safety and encourage every day participation is to hold voluntary creative and interactive information sharing sessions specific to the hazards present in your workplace.