WASHINGTON — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a national safety stand-down from June 2 to 6 to raise awareness among employers and workers about the hazards of falls, which account for the highest number of deaths in construction.

“Falls account for more than a third of all deaths in this industry,” said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. “We’re working with employers, workers, industry groups, state OSH plans, and civic and faith-based organizations to host safety stand-downs that focus on recognizing hazards and preventing falls. We are getting the message out to America’s employers that safety pays and falls cost.”

During the stand-down, employers and workers are asked to pause their workday to talk about fall prevention in construction and discuss topics like ladder safety and scaffolding safety. OSHA has also launched an official national safety stand-down website with information on how to conduct a successful stand-down.

The stand-down is part of OSHA’s ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign, which was started in 2012 and was developed in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and its National Occupational Research Agenda program. The campaign provides employers with information and educational materials on how to prevent falls, provide the right equipment for their workers, and train all employees in the proper use of that equipment.

To learn how to partner with OSHA in this stand-down, visit www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/. The page provides details on how to conduct a stand-down; receive a certificate of participation; and access free education and training resources, fact sheets, and other outreach materials in English and Spanish. To learn more about preventing falls in construction, visit www.osha.gov/stopfalls/.

Publication date: 5/19/2014

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!