Join OSHA in the fight against falls and raise awareness about fall protection methods. From May 2-6, OSHA will encourage companies to get involved in its Safety Stand-Down event by organizing extra safety training activities, exercises, or toolbox talks for their employees, with a particular emphasis on fall prevention.
Approximately 345 of the 899 fatalities experienced in the construction industry in 2014 were related to falls, and those deaths were preventable, according to OSHA. Fall prevention safety standards were also among the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards.
Construction workers face more than their fair share of risk. The companies that support them have plenty of incentive to limit risk as injuries are not only bad for individuals and crew morale, but they also limit productivity and could lead to lawsuits or OSHA violations. OSHA is encouraging construction professionals to pause this week and take some time to focus on fall-related safety.
Holding a Safety Stand-Down event
Any construction organization can hold its own Safety Stand-Down session, as OSHA explained that commercial and residential contractors, government entities, unions, trade associations, independent contractors and a variety of others have taken on the task in the past. Last year, approximately 2.5 million workers were reached through a Safety Stand-Down. This year, OSHA is hoping to get at least 5 million construction industry employees involved.
All you need to do to host a session is pause to talk about fall hazards and fall prevention on the construction site. For more information about how to host your own Stand-Down activity, visit OSHA’s website: https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/suggestions.html
Using training to protect your employees
Don’t limit your safety training to big weeks like the OSHA Safety Stand-Down. Taking time to foster professional development and improve safety practices through continuing education for contractors can help you set your organization apart as a leader in protecting workers. It can also help you avoid financial losses that come from lost productivity or OSHA fines that come when safety problems emerge.
