Safety Stand Down to Emphasize Prevention of Fall Injuries

TENNESSEE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS UNITE TO ADDRESS LEADING CAUSE OF WORK-SITE DEATHS

NASHVILLE – On June 2, 2014, the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) and construction trade associations are inviting construction industry employers to stop work to engage their employees in discussions on preventing fall-related injuries.

Called 2014 Fall Protection Safety Stand Down, employers across the state will “stand down” – that is, cease operations – at their job sites to review with their employees the fine points of fall prevention.

“The Fall Protection Safety Stand Down event is taking place at the beginning of the busiest period for construction activity,” said TOSHA Administrator Steve Hawkins. “In the Stand Down training sessions, employers will stress that fall prevention is preferable to fall arrest.”

Employees will provide feedback on the kinds of activities they perform that can result in fall injuries. They will learn about unprotected edges and other work-site conditions requiring fall protection measures. Suggestions to help plan a Stand Down can be found at https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/suggestions.html.

Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry, accounting for one-third of all deaths in the industry. Nationally over the past five years, construction fatalities have averaged 287 each year.

TOSHA continues to focus on the goal of reducing deaths in high-hazard industries with programs such as the Fall Protection Safety Stand Down. OSHA statistics show that weekly workplace deaths are down nationally over the past four decades from 38 a day in 1970 to 12 a day in 2012, at the same time that national employment has almost doubled.

Construction industry employers interested in taking part in Fall Protection Safety Stand Down who have not yet registered may do so by going to the Stand Down registration link on the TOSHA Website homepage at http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/tosha.shtml. A PowerPoint presentation is available to assist employers with the Stand Down training.  If you have questions about the Stand Down program, contact Larry Hunt, Tennessee OSHA, at larry.hunt@tn.gov or (615) 741-7036. 

In addition to TOSHA, the following partner organizations are supporting Fall Protection Safety Stand Down this year:

Associated Builders and Contractors
Associated General Contractors of Tennessee
American Society of Safety Engineers
Home Builders Association of Tennessee
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association
Tennessee Road Builders Association
Volunteer State Community College
Southeastern OSHA Training Institute

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