According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,008 construction fatalities in 2018 and 320 of those were attributed to falls. Fall protection remains one of OSHA’s most frequently cited violations.
OSHA announced its 7th Annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls event for the week of September 14-18.
Safety Stand Down
A safety stand down is a voluntary event for employers to talk with employees about safety requirements to help prevent fall hazards and reinforce the importance of Fall Prevention.
Who Should Participate?
All companies are eligible to participate. Even employers with employees not exposed to fall hazards are encouraged to take this time to discuss, and reinforce, job hazards and the safety measures and requirements in place to ensure a safer work environment. Companies participating can also receive a Certificate of Participation.
8 Steps to Conduct a Successful Stand Down
To ensure a smooth Stand Down event, and to encourage companies to participate, OSHA provides the following steps to take:
- Start early and designate a coordinator to organize the event
- Ask not only employees but subcontractors, architects, engineers, or others to participate
- Review your current fall prevention program to see if there are updates needed
- Decide on what information will be best to present about hazards, protective methods, and the company’s safety policies
- Choose a date and length of time for the event
- Promote your event with email, social media, handouts, posters
- Keep the event positive and interactive with open conversations and demonstrations of safety protocols
- After the event, be sure to follow-up with any improvements
OSHA also hosts an Events page with events that are free and open to the public to help employers and employees find events locally. If you plan to host a free event that is open to the public, see OSHA’s Events page to submit the event details and to contact your Regional Stand-Down Coordinator. In New England, the contact person is:
Paul Mangiafico
Mangiafico.Paul@dol.gov
860-240-3152
860-597-0307
We’re here to help
Interested in holding a stand down event? Feel free to contact us, we can help with planning and presenting safety tips and topics to ensure a successful event.
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