For the last 10 years, Construction Safety Week has been used to promote worker safety and wellness. It’s an opportunity for people, companies and the entire construction industry to join, celebrate and recommit to doing whatever it takes to send workers home safely every day. Construction workers are more at risk than others; they face higher than average incident rates compared to other occupations. One of those incidents includes falls.
According to OSHA, falls continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 395 of the 1,069 fatalities that occurred in 2022. Falls routinely top the list of OSHA’s 10 most frequently cited standards making it imperative to raise fall hazard awareness to stop fall fatalities and injuries. That’s why for 2024, Construction Safety Week, held from May 6 – 10, has partnered with OSHA and its National Safety Stand-Down initiative to help prevent falls in construction. The joint effort encourages companies to pause work sites throughout the US to create the largest industry-wide safety stand-down ever held.
What’s A Safety Stand-Down
A safety stand-down is a voluntary event where employers talk directly to workers about safety. A stand-down can take place anywhere that allows employees to take a break to focus on fall hazards and the importance of fall prevention. It’s also an opportunity to have a conversation with employees about the other job hazards they face, protective methods and company safety policies and goals. Holding a stand-down also gives employees an opportunity to talk to management about fall and other job hazards they may see.
How to Prepare for a Stand-Down
Companies can conduct a safety stand-down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity such as conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans or discussing job specific hazards. These don’t just have to take place during Construction Safety Week. Managers are encouraged to plan a stand-down that works best for their workplace anytime.
OSHA offers these suggestions:
- Try to start early. Designate a coordinator to organize the stand-down. If you have multiple work sites, identify the team that will lead the stand-down at each site.
- Think about asking your subcontractors, owner, architects, engineers or others associated with your project to participate in the stand-down.
- Consider reviewing your fall prevention program. This will help provide a more effective stand-down. Falls can occur from: ladders, a roof, a scaffold, stairs, structural steel, through a floor or roof opening and through a fragile roof surface. Look at what needs improvement, including the training and equipment currently offered to employees.
- Develop presentations or activities that will meet your needs. Decide what information will be best for your workplace and employees. The meeting should provide information to employees about hazards, protective methods, and the company’s safety policies, goals and expectations. Hands-on exercises (a worksite walkaround, equipment checks, etc.) can increase retention.
- Decide when to hold the stand-down and how long it will last. Decide if the stand-down will take place over a break, a lunch period or some other time.
- Promote the stand-down. Try to make it interesting to employees. Some employers find that serving snacks increases participation.
- Hold your stand-down. Try to make it positive and interactive. Let employees talk about their experiences and encourage them to make suggestions.
- Follow up. If you learned something that could improve your fall prevention program, consider making changes.
Participate in the National Safety Stand-Down Event
Construction Safety Week and OSHA are holding the largest, national industry-wide stand down event on May 8, 2024. Companies are encouraged to join the national effort and stand down to raise fall hazard awareness and build a stronger, safer industry together. If you cannot join on May 8, companies are invited to stand down any time during the week of May 6-10. After the stand down, a Certificate of Participation can be downloaded so anyone who joined the cause can be recognized.
Read this blog to learn more about fall prevention and safety.
Arcoro supports worker safety through our partnership with SkillSignal, an all-in-one solution that connects foremen, superintendents, project managers and safety pros to safety goals and requirements giving construction companies total oversight and control. Together, SkillSignal’s safety and compliance platform and Arcoro’s learning management system provides a comprehensive training and tracking solution that helps keep workers and jobsites safe.
Contact us for a free demo to learn more.
