The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold the eighth annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction May 3-7, 2021.

The event was first held in 2014 to create awareness of the dangers of falls in the construction workplace, provide an opportunity to discuss safety strategies, and to learn from others in the field.

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls accounted for 401 of the 1,061 construction fatalities recorded in 2019.

“Workers suffer serious and fatal injuries from falls and have a devastating impact on families and businesses,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health James Frederick. “This important collaboration with the construction industry encourages employers to learn how to better control fall-related hazards and improve their safety and health programs.”

OSHA and Tri-State/Service Group believe all falls are preventable with proper planning, equipment, and training. We work continuously to improve safety performance–including fall prevention–through our “Working. Safe.” program.