2014 National Safety Stand-Down for Fall Prevention

March 28, 2014

In an effort to raise awareness about fall hazards in the construction industry, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has partnered with several other government organizations to promote a National Safety Stand-Down from June 2 to 6.   

Due to the alarming number of fall-related fatalities and citations in the construction industry, OSHA decided to develop a Fall Prevention Campaign that has been in full swing since 2012. OSHA has partnered with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) which is associated with NIOSH.

The concept of the safety stand-down is to set a period of time for employers to reserve a time to talk to their employees about fall hazards and fall safety. Thanks to the contributions of multiple organizations, there are many educational resources available in several languages. Groups like the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the National Safety Council (NSC), and the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) are also involved with the partnership and resource compilation.

The nice thing about this approach to workplace education is that the employer has control over how their employees are informed about falls. The OSHA website is primarily functioning as an information hub for employers. There are educational resources for companies of almost any size and background, which makes it very user-friendly and adaptable for all types of construction business owners.

Depending upon the variables present at a worksite, employers can customize their employee’s educational experience regarding fall prevention and protection. Informational tools such as OSHA fact sheets, posters, wallet cards, videos, and training guides/lesson plans are some of the things that are accessible through the OSHA website. NIOSH even created a phone application about ladder safety (in English and Spanish) since it is a fairly universal topic for people in construction. 

OSHA’s goal is to have 25,000 employers and 500,000 workers participate in the stand-down by talking to workers about falls. In theory, if these goals are reached, it is estimated that roughly 1 in 10 construction workers will have been educated about fall prevention and fall protection. After June 2, OSHA will have a Certificate of Participation available for download on their official Safety Stand-Down website. The webpage for the event is also encouraging employers to participate in social media campaigns to start a dialogue about fall prevention, fall protection, and any other associated topics (like ladder safety—for example). So in addition to providing information, OSHA’s website is hoping to act as a forum for employers to share their fall protection education experiences. When employers offer their opinions and experiences, they will be helping OSHA (and all associated partners) gain a better idea of how to approach fall protection education for employees.

One of the most effective methods of resonating with employees about the importance of fall protection is through the use of personal stories. The Center for Construction Research and Training has created an 11-minute video entitled Don’t Fall For It! The CPWR surveyed 450 construction workers before and after watching their fall protection/ladder inspection video and the results were impressive. 

Prior to watching the video, 44% of employees always inspected their ladder, 49% of employees sometimes inspected their ladder, and 7% of employees never inspected their ladder. But when surveyed several months after watching the video, 83% of those same employees reported that they always inspected their ladders prior to work, 16% inspected their ladder sometimes, and only 1% never inspected their ladder. Thanks to this survey, the CPWR was able to gauge the effectiveness of their fall protection video. Clearly, the video had an impact.

OSHA has made a sincere effort to make fall protection regulation information as accessible and user-friendly as possible. Thanks to partners and sponsors, OSHA has been able to gather the information that would be most useful for employers and employees in construction. As an additional benefit for workers who are non-English speakers, OSHA fact sheets have been translated into the following languages: Spanish, Polish, Russian, and Portuguese. By having information available in multiple languages, OSHA can successfully give people the information they need to stay safer while working at height.

Hopefully, OSHA will be successful in their efforts to inform the public about the dangers of falling in the construction industry. By informing people about these hazards, OSHA is hoping to reduce the number of fatalities related to falls in the construction industry. The only way that people will find out about falls is if their employer gives them the information.  So, spread the word about the safety stand down for fall prevention—you may save someone’s life. 

Stand-Down Fast Fact Breakdown

Sponsors: OSHA, NIOSH, and NORA

What: A discussion about fall prevention and protection techniques

When: June 2 to 6, 2014

Where: All construction companies within the United States

Why: Falls are the number one cause of fatalities in the construction industry. And fall protection is the number one citation for the construction industry.

How: Using the resources here.

Until the next time, stay safe up there!

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