The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) recently announced the 11th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction taking place from May 6-10. The observance is part of a year-round campaign led by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It encourages safety professionals and employers to raise awareness around fall protection and prevention.
Construction companies can recognize the stand-down that week by briefly stopping work and giving a toolbox talk; performing a safety equipment inspection; conducting a rescue planning exercise; or discussing job-specific hazards. It’s important that all workers be outfitted with proper-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE).
ASSP encourages the use of the hashtag #StandDown4Safety on social media to share stories and recommendations during the weeklong observance, which coincides with National Construction Safety Week. It has helped train more than 10 million workers on fall prevention since its inception in 2014.
OSHA offers several resources for conducting a safety stand-down, including infographics and articles about construction risks and fall protection; publications about ladder safety; fall protection videos; and hardhat stickers and hazard alert cards. Materials on working safely at height are available in English and Español.
For more information on this campaign, visit the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls website.
