Stand Down to Prevent Falls in Construction

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor. 

Falls are by far the leading cause of death in the construction industry. 

The Bureau of Labor statistics reports that in 2018 there were 1008 construction deaths and 320 of those were from falls. To try to lower these number OSHA has created the national Safety Stand Down week which encourages contractors to hold educational sessions with their crews on the topic of preventing falls.  

A Stand Down is simply an event where employers and employees discuss fall hazards and reinforce the importance of fall protection. Contractors can have Toolbox Talks, conduct safety gear inspections, review the company’s safety policies After your event, visit OSHA’s National Safety Stand Down website to provide feedback and print out your Certificate of Participation. Displaying the certificate demonstrates to your team and your customers your commitment to safety.  

Traditionally held each May, this year’s event was postponed to September 14 – 18, 2020. Mark your calendars and make you plans now to participate. Here are some tips on having a successful Stand Down for Safety week: 

• Designate someone on your team to coordinate activities 

• Invite subcontractors or other trades working with you to participate 

• Offer food and drink during your Stand Down 

• Encourage employees to participate and share their experiences  

It’s easy to participate and companies of any size can join in. Your participation can be as simple as a 15-minute Toolbox Talk or you might want to plan an activity for each day of the week and share a fall-specific safety topic each day.  

Be sure to share your success and participation with OSHA. Share photos on social media and use the hashtag #standdown4safety. OSHA has prepared FAQ’s, social media graphics, infographics with important statistics and highlight from past Stand Downs to help your event be a success. Everything is available on the Stand Down for Safety website.  

Mark your calendars for the week of September 14, 2020 and start planning your activities now. 

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