National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction – May 2-6, 2022
This year’s National Safety Stand-Down will take place May 2-6, 2022. The goal of the Stand-Down is to raise awareness to fall hazards and reinforce safe work practices that help prevent fatalities and injuries related to falls.
Falls are preventable, and yet falls from elevations remained the leading cause of death in 2020 accounting for 351 of the 1,008 construction fatalities and 645 of the 4,764 fatalities in all industries (BLS data). Although the construction fatal falls represented a nearly 13% decrease from 2019, we must continue to do better in this area. OSHA’s goal should be your goal–zero fatalities or injuries related to falls.
The Stand-Down is an opportunity for employers and workers to have a conversation about training, job hazards, protective methods, speaking up about unsafe conditions, and the company’s safety policies, goals and expectations.
Over the past eight years, tens of thousands of companies participated in Stand-Downs reaching millions of workers across all 50 states and internationally! Over 800 free public events were held in support of the Stand-Down. By continuing to reach millions of employees, OSHA hopes to decrease the number of fatalities and injuries related to falls.
Participation is not limited to the construction industry, and no business is too small to participate. In previous years, many non-construction employers held Stand-Downs, resulting in nearly half of the participants receiving certificates for Stand-Downs with less than 25 employees.
Partners: The support from our partners is key to a successful Stand-Down. Each year OSHA works with State Plans, state consultation programs, employer’s trade associations, unions, institutes, worker interest organizations, companies, safety equipment managers, construction material suppliers, other government agencies, and many other groups to get the word out. We’ll need your help again this year to make the Stand-Down a successful event.
How to help: Partners can help in many different ways, including: hosting or organizing Stand-Down events, encouraging organization members to participate, sending Stand-Down information by email or in newsletters, providing Stand-Down resources to members or stakeholders, contacting local media to share Stand-Down events, or success stories. We are asking everyone to reinforce the CDC guidelines on social distancing, wearing face coverings and small group settings in your messaging. If you have other ideas for ways to help, let us know at oshastanddown@dol.gov!
Associations, Unions, Worker Interest Organizations: Organizations can help OSHA get the word out to all of your members via email or in newsletters, by posting information on their websites, and by talking about the Stand-Down at meetings, trainings, or events. Groups may also be able to personalize Stand-Down posters and training resources for members to use.
Institutes/Training Centers: Many groups that provide training have offered no-cost or discounted training during the Stand-Down week. This is a great way to help! If Institutes offer free training that is open to the public, OSHA can post those events on the Stand-Down webpage, so let us know.
Employers as Partners: Some large employers have helped by getting their entire workforce involved across the country and internationally. Employers can share information, ideas and suggestions on how to hold a stand-down to all of their offices. Some large employers have also hosted or co-hosted Stand-Down events, including events that are open to the public.
Materials Suppliers: Materials suppliers can also help get the word out and remind employers to consider fall hazards. One idea might be to include flyers about the Stand-Down or about fall safety with materials orders.
Insurance Companies: Insurance companies know that preventing falls saves lives – and saves money. Insurance companies can help get the word out about the Stand-Down through newsletters or emails to customers.
Social Media: Partners and employers are also encouraged to promote the event by using the #StandDown4Safety on social media as well as provide feedback before and after their events.
Employers: Any company can join this year’s Stand-Down effort. Companies may participate by providing a focused toolbox talk on a safety topic such as roofing, ladder, or scaffold safety, or by conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans, or discussing job-specific hazards. Companies can also attend or host events, watch a safety video or create a video of their own to share with employees. In past Stand-Downs several companies participated in a safety poster contest and others shared real-life stories of fall protection successes and lessons learned. The important thing is to do something to increase job safety awareness.
Events: OSHA will post “virtual” events that are free and open to the public on the webpage to help employers and employees find events in their area. If a company or organization wants to post a free event that is open to the public (including any members of the press) on the webpage, or would like to invite OSHA to participate in a free event, each OSHA region has a Stand-Down Coordinator they can contact to get additional information (See Map and Chart Below). This information and FAQs are also available on the campaign webpage.
Resources: OSHA has posted free resources for employers on the Stand-Down webpage. Materials in English and Spanish include fact sheets, a training guide, posters, videos, wallet cards, and instructions on how to conduct a Stand-Down.
CERTIFY your Stand-Down! As in previous years, employers will be able to download Certificates of Participation and provide feedback on their experiences following their Stand-Down. Certificates are the main way OSHA receives feedback on how many employers participate and ideas for improving future Stand-Downs. Certificates will be available on OSHA’s webpage beginning May 2, 2022.
Connect online: Partners and employers can follow OSHA on @OSHA_DOL and tweet a message about fall prevention with #StandDown4Safety. Employers can also connect with employees on their phones, and text or email them messages about fall protection safety. Let us know how your Stand-Down went by emailing us at oshastanddown@dol.gov or reaching out to your Regional Stand-Down Coordinator (see Map and Chart below).
The Stand-Down is part of OSHA’s ongoing National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction, launched in 2012 with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, The Center for Construction Research and Training and NIOSH’s National Occupational Research Agenda. The fall prevention campaign has been working to provide resources to the construction industry to prevent falls for ten years. Other key groups that assist in this effort include OSHA-approved State Plans, state consultation programs, the American Society of Safety Professionals, the National Safety Council, and the OSHA Regional Education Centers.
Regional Stand-Down Coordinators: Need help with your Stand-Down? OSHA’s regional Stand-Down Coordinators can work with you to help make your stand-down a successful, coordinated event (See Map and Chart below).
