Why Was There a Nationwide Safety Stand-Down?

During the week of June 2, more than one million workers nationwide participated in a series of “safety stand-downs” to bring to light the issue of fall regulations and safety in the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored the event and asked workers and employers to voluntarily stop work to talk about fall prevention.

Failure to provide fall protection is the most frequent citation given by OSHA. Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, resulting in thousands of injuries and hundreds of fatalities every year.

OSHA believes that these falls are preventable when employers provide the right safety equipment and training to their workers. The stand-down is part of an ongoing effort to protect workers from fall hazards as part of OSHA’s Fall Prevention Campaign, which launched two years ago.

During the weeklong stand-down, employees and management were encouraged to pause during their workday to talk to each other about how to prevent injuries and fatalities from falls. Tens of thousands of employers participated in the event, including the U.S. Air Force, Daytona International Speedway and Balfour Beatty Construction.

Injuries from a fall can be life altering, cause significant damage and require extensive recovery time. OSHA hopes that promoting education in proper fall prevention and safety techniques will provide workers and employers with the tools they need to work safely.

I Fell on the Job! What Are My Legal Options?

Education is important when it comes to preventing falls, but even with the proper knowledge, hundreds of employers expose their workers to fall hazards every day. The consequences of any fall can be catastrophic, and your employer has a responsibility make sure you are protected. To discuss your fall-related injury or any other workers comp claim, call Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC. We know the law, and we can help you fight negligent corporations who place profits above people.

Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers Comp Attorneys