Hazard alert shines light on fall hazards in construction

Portland, OR — Responding to the 19 fatal falls involving construction workers in the state since 2018, the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences has issued a hazard alert.

Falls have been the leading cause of death in the industry over that time. In many of the cases, the workers were alone or not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. 

Safety tips for employers and workers:

• Assess the work area for fall hazards and eliminate them, if possible, before starting work.
• If fall hazards can’t be eliminated, implement prevention measures such as guardrails, covers or personal fall restraint systems. Or, use control measures such as personal fall arrest systems, positioning or a safety net system.
• Inspect fall protection equipment as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Make sure your fall protection equipment fits properly and is appropriate for the work being performed.
• Provide workers with fall protection training.

The alert also details three separate incidents in which a construction worker suffered a fatal fall.