Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 30, 2014
Residential construction companies that have employees exposed to fall hazards are encouraged to participate in the National Safety Stand-Down campaign this June 2-6, 2014.
The purpose of this voluntary event is for employers to be able to converse with their employees about fall hazards and raise awareness for fall prevention.
Falls are a leading source of death for workers. In 2012, 269 out of 775 fatalities of construction workers were from falls. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. David Michaels says that, "Falls account for more than a third of all deaths in this industry. We're working with employers, workers, industry groups, state OSH plans, and civic and faith-based organizations to host safety stand-downs that focus on recognizing hazards and preventing falls. We are getting the message out to America's employers that safety pays and falls cost."
Work may be paused for the day while construction companies conduct a toolbox talk or related safety activities. Construction safety discussions may include ladder safety, proper use of fall protection equipment and related company safety policies.
Construction industry safety standards must guarantee that employees working six feet or more above lower levels use guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems. In certain locales, the requirement is at four feet per state OSH plans. Employees are advised to also take OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour Outreach Training for construction.
OSHAcampus.com is an OSHA approved course provider for self-paced, online OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour Outreach Training for construction. The courses are created for safety managers, safety trainers and construction employees. Upon enrollment, Outreach Training courses for construction will tackle the recognition, avoidance and prevention of workplace hazards, including falls. The OSHA 10-Hour is designed for entry level workers while OSHA 30-Hour is for employees with safety responsibility.
OSHA’s goal is to have over 25,000 employers and 500,000 workers involved in the Stand-Down. This will amount to almost 1 out of 10 construction workers in the country. Employers may download Certificates of Participation to give to their workers on June 2 thru July 15, 2014, following their stand-down.
The National Safety Stand-Down is part of OSHA’s Fall Prevention Campaign. The campaign gives employers the right tools and facts in order to prevent falls and have the best equipment suited for such work.
OSHA is partnering with key groups to help with this endeavor, including the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), OSHA approved State Plans, State consultation programs, the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the National Safety Council, and the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers.