More construction workers die each year from falls from ladders, scaffolds, and roofs than anything else. In 2012, there were 269 fall fatalities out of 775 total fatalities in construction. And it’s not surprising, considering that fall prevention is among the 10 most violated safety standards, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Yet these deaths are completely preventable with three simple steps: planning, preparation, and training.
Many construction workers perform tasks at heights that require protection from potential falls. A fall can occur in a split second without any time for the worker to react, and having a serious injury or death at a worksite affects everyone. Preventing falls starts with planning to get the job done safely, providing the right fall protection equipment, and training all workers to use the equipment safely.
OSHA recently launched a campaign to raise awareness about falls prevention and provide construction site safety tips, and they’re inviting companies and contractors to participate in a National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction from June 2-6, 2014.
A voluntary event, the safety stand-down encourages employers to talk directly to employees about fall hazards and to reinforce the importance of fall prevention. Any construction company can participate by pausing during the workday anytime that week to hold a discussion, or “Toolbox Talk,” on a fall prevention topic, such as ladder safety, scaffolding safety, or roofing work safety. The talk provides information to workers about hazards, protective methods, and the company’s OSHA safety standards and policies, goals, and expectations.
OSHA has launched an official national safety stand-down website with information for managers on how to conduct a successful stand-down, as well as downloadable lesson plans, campaign posters, fact sheets, and other resources. Afterwards, employers will be able to provide feedback and receive a personalized certificate of participation.
The goal is for more than 25,000 employers and 500,000 workers to participate in a stand-down during the week of June 2-6. If the goal is met, this critical fall prevention information will have reached nearly one out of 10 construction workers in the U.S. — which could mean the difference between life or death for those workers.
At Diversified Safety Services, LLC, we know the difference a simple stand-down can make in keeping workers safe and helping you meet compliance. So we’re encouraging our clients to take part and using our blog to help raise awareness about fall prevention.
Stay tuned for our next post about ladder safety, and get in touch to learn more about our full range of safety services or to schedule one of our many occupational safety training courses.
