Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry. In 2012, 279 construction workers lost their lives in falls from heights and more than 8,800 construction workers were seriously injured by falls. From June 2 through June 6, 2014 employers and workers are voluntarily stopping work to talk about saving lives and preventing fatal falls. More than 1 million workers and tens of thousands of businesses across the country are expected to participate in this national stand-down for fall safety.

This national stand-down is all part of OSHA’s Fall Prevention Campaign. According to OSHA, falls can be prevented and lives can be saved through three simple steps:

• Planning ahead to get the job done safely;
• Providing the right equipment, such as personal fall arrest systems; and
• Training all workers to use the equipment properly and safely.

During this week, OSHA is partnering with the Associated Builders and Contractors, the National Association of Home Builders, the National Roofing Contractors Association, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Ironworkers Union and others to “come together for worker safety.” According to Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels, “this is an unprecedented effort with a record number of participants  . . . . [and] [n]ow is the time to focus on this vital safety issue.” Dr. Michaels went on to say that OSHA’s message is “[s]afety pays and falls cost.”