Falls from elevation continue to be the leading cause of worker fatalities in construction, accounting for 269 of the 775 construction fatalities recorded in 2012. To help prevent future incidents, OSHA has declared the week of June 2, 2014, a national safety stand down to prevent falls in construction. OSHA encourages employers and workers alike to take time during that week to discuss fall prevention topics, such as ladder safety, scaffolding safety and roofing safety.
OSHA has launched a website to provide guidance on conducting a successful stand down at individual workplaces. The site provides various educational resources, including:
•OSHA's fall prevention training guide.
•Fall prevention fact sheets in English, Spanish, Polish and Russian.
•Posters in English and Spanish.
•Fall prevention wallet cards in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
•English/Spanish ladder safety booklet.
•Scaffolding e-tool.
•Videos in both English and Spanish covering topics such as floor openings, fixed scaffolds, bridge decking, reroofing and leading edge work.
Following the stand down, employers will have the opportunity to provide feedback on their experience and receive a certificate of participation.
A Blog From the American Society of Safety Engineers