National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction takes place May 6-10

Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of death for construction workers, with more than 350 fatalities and 20,000 serious injuries occurring each year. OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction campaign, scheduled for May 6-10, raises awareness of fall hazards to help prevent fall injuries and fatalities.

A safety stand-down is a voluntary event that encourages employers to talk to employees about safety and participate in safety-related activities such as:

• Toolbox talks
• Equipment inspections
• Rescue planning exercises
• Discussions about job-specific hazards

Employer and employee resources to aid in conducting a safety stand-down, including articles, publications, and infographics about construction risks and fall protection can be found at osha.gov.