National Fall Safety Stand-Down
NAHB Supports OSHA’s Annual National Safety Stand-Down
OSHA is partnering with employers and trade associations on its National Safety Stand-Down for fall prevention in construction, which will take place May 2-6, 2022. The safety stand-down is designed to raise awareness about the hazards of falls, which are responsible for the highest number of deaths in the construction industry, contributing to 351 worker deaths in 2020 alone. Fall protection is also the most frequently cited OSHA violation each year.
What is a Safety Stand-Down?
A safety stand-down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about fall hazards and to reinforce the importance of fall protection.
Who Should Participate?
Anyone who wants to prevent hazards in the workplace can participate in the stand-down. In past years, participants included both small and large construction companies, residential construction contractors, sub- and independent contractors, trade associations, and safety equipment manufacturers.
Three Steps to Hold Your Own Stand-Down:
- Plan ahead. Always schedule the stand-down ahead of time to maximize worker turnout. Jobsites follow strict schedules with tight deadlines, so it is important to schedule at a time convenient for all workers. TIP: Provide lunch as an incentive for participation.
- Cover the basics. Choose a topic to use as the focus of the stand-down. Tailor the topic to the current jobsite priorities, such as scaffolding, ladder or roofing safety. TIP: Use free safety resources from NAHB for ideas and distribute the written handout materials:
- Hold your stand-down. Present the information to the workers, keeping it short and simple. Use visual aids or conduct hands-on demonstrations, such as how to put on a harness or inspect a ladder/scaffold. TIP: The safety information can be distributed digitally (through email and/or text).
Additional Resources
- NAHB’s Fall Protection Toolkit
- NAHB Video Toolbox Talks
- OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction
On May 4, 2021, NAHB hosted a free Town Hall discussion on the top five OSHA fall violations in residential construction and how to properly conduct an OSHA inspection. Matt Murphy, President and CEO of Safety Environmental Engineering, Inc., shared his extensive experience and knowledge on how to effectively manage fall prevention on the jobsite. Watch the Zoom recording (use passcode @#i4@KH5)
Share Your Story
Post pictures and recaps on social media after the stand-down using the hashtags #Safety365 and #StandDown4Safety to show your support for NAHB and OSHA safety initiatives.