Get ready for the National Safety Stand-Down: Free resources available

Washington — NIOSH, OSHA and the Center for Construction Research and Training – also known as CPWR – are offering a number of free online resources to help employers prepare for the sixth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, set to take place May 6-10.

According to NIOSH, falls are the leading cause of death among construction workers, accounting for more than one-third of the industry’s fatalities in 2017.

Resources include a series of infographics co-developed by NIOSH, CPWR and other organizations covering topics such as:

• Preventing falls from equipment
• Preventing falls through skylights and holes
• Personal fall arrest systems
• Fatal falls among workers in small businesses

Additionally, NIOSH’s recently updated Aerial Lift Hazard Recognition Simulator offers workers the experience of navigating numerous hazards that scissor and boom lift operators may encounter on the jobsite.

Speaking March 20 during a CPWR-hosted webinar promoting the stand-down, Scott Ketcham, acting director of OSHA’s Directorate of Construction, called the annual event a “huge success in large and small companies” that has exceeded the agency’s expectations.

“It is the largest compliance-assistance project involving construction that OSHA has done, and we’re looking forward to your participation in it to make it a success moving forward,” Ketcham said.

Earlier this year, OSHA shared a number of fall prevention resources, including a Fall Prevention Training Guide, hazard prevention videos, and fact sheets on the safe use of ladders and scaffolding.

OSHA states that millions of construction workers have participated in the stand-down since the campaign began in 2014, with events taking place in all 50 states and internationally.