OSHA's national fall prevention stand-down for construction industry underway

Washington – OSHA is calling on employers in the construction industry to participate in a National Fall Prevention Stand-Down during the week of June 2-6.

Employers are being asked to speak directly with workers about fall hazards and to reinforce topics such as ladder safety, fall protection equipment and scaffolding safety. The leading cause of death in construction is falls from height, which killed more than 250 construction workers in 2012, according to OSHA.

“Falls account for more than a third of all deaths in this industry,” OSHA administrator David Michaels said in a press release. “We are getting the message out to America’s employers that safety pays and falls cost.”

The agency said it hopes to have more than 25,000 employers host a safety stand-down during the week, which OSHA said could potentially reach 10 percent of all construction workers in the country. The stand-down is part of the agency’s Fall Prevention Campaign.