Falls from elevation rank nationally as the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among workers. In 2022, falls accounted for 700 construction worker fatalities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. To address this, the 11th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction will be held from May 6-10, 2024. Established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), this initiative aims to raise awareness and promote fall prevention practices in the construction industry.
During the 2024 National Safety Stand-Down, OSHA, along with the National Safety Council and numerous other organizations, urges employers to allocate a few minutes during the week for discussions on fall protection and safety measures when working at heights.
A safety stand-down is a practice in the construction industry where construction activities are temporarily halted to provide an opportunity for employers and employees to engage in discussions about identifying hazards, implementing preventive measures and reinforcing safety protocols.
To promote this year's Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance (KOSHS) program at the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center has released a Hazard Alert to bring awareness about the increasing risks associated with ladder-related accidents.
"We've seen a concerning trend of ladder-related falls in Kentucky, with 447 construction worker injuries leading to lost work time between 2013 and 2022 and, unfortunately, eight fatalities during the same period," said Rebecca Honaker, research director for KOSHS.
