On the heels of Workers Memorial Day, Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) Executive Director Pete Stafford said; “Just as we owe a debt we can never repay to the men and women who died defending our nation and our freedom, we owe a similar debt to those who died while laboring to create the prosperity we enjoy as Americans.”

3,500 lives

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction workers, accounting for 291 of the 828 construction fatalities recorded in 2013. Falls from height have claimed more than 3,500 lives in the past decade.

“That's why I am asking everyone I know in the construction industry to join OSHA, NIOSH, and CPWR starting May 4 in a nationwide "Safety Stand-Down" on our nation's construction sites,” said Stafford.

Why a stand-down?

The purpose of the National Fall Prevention Stand-Down, which runs May 4 through May 15, is to raise awareness of preventing fall hazards in construction. Fall prevention safety standards were among the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards, during fiscal year 2014.

Last year’s Stand-Down reached more than 1 million workers. This year, OSHA's goal is for more than 20,000 Stand-Downs involving more than 3 million workers to take place from May 4-15, 2015.

“If we meet this goal, we will have touched almost 4 out of 10 construction workers in the country,” according to OSHA.

“Contractors, unions, and government agencies across the nation will direct attention to this killer that claims the life of a construction worker somewhere in America nearly every working day,” said Stafford. “Will you join us?”

Resources

The Campaign to Stop Construction Falls has a resource page full of ideas how to take part: toolbox talks, streaming videos, handouts and apps - and even a 10-day plan of suggested activities.

“This Workers' Memorial Day, make a pledge to do your part to help stop construction falls.”