According to a new fall prevention training guide recently released by OSHA, falls are the leading cause of death in construction. Falls were attributed to more than one third of the 721 construction deaths in 2011, noted OSHA.
The Fall Prevention Training Guide: A Lesson Plan for Employers contains information for employers to share with employees to better educate them about fall prevention, addressing ladder, scaffolding and roofing work safety. View the full document here.
In an effort to raise awareness about fall protection, OSHA is holding a National Safety Stand-Down between June 2 and June 6. The goal of the event is to encourage employers to speak with employees about fall hazards and explain the importance of using proper fall protection.
Companies are being asked to hold a “safety stand-down,” during which they gather employees to discuss a safety topic related to falls—fall protection equipment or ladder safety, for example.
OSHA hopes that more than 25,000 employers and 500,000 workers participate.
OSHA has invited many different types of organizations to take part in the stand-down: trade associations, employers, federal, state and local governmental agencies, professional societies, institutes, and consumer/labor-management interest organizations, sub-and independent contractors.
OSHA suggests companies prepare for the stand-down by reviewing their current fall protection program. For more suggestions on how to prepare for the event, click here.