OSHA's National Safety Stand-Down Week to Prevent Falls in Construction runs May 6-10, 2019, in conjunction with the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Safety Week.

Who is it for?

Anyone interested in educating employees in fall hazards, or other job hazards, can participate. In past years, participants included general contractors, sub-and independent contractors, employer's trade associations, federal, state and local governmental agencies, professional societies, institutes, and consumer/labor-management interest organizations. Millions of employees across all 50 states and internationally have participated in previous Stand-Downs.

Not just the construction industry

Despite its name, participation in the stand-down is not limited to the construction industry, and no business is too small to participate. In previous years, many non-construction employers held Stand-Downs. In fact, the largest single participant in 2015 and 2016 was the United States Air Force, reaching more than 1 million military and civilian personnel. The smallest company to receive a certificate had only one employee and nearly half of certificates for participation completed through OSHA's website were for Stand-Downs with less than 25 employees.

How do you participate?

Companies can conduct a Safety Stand-Down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity such as conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans, or discussing job specific hazards. A Safety Stand-Down should provide an opportunity for employers and employees to talk about hazards, protective methods, and the company's safety policies, goals and expectations.

For more information, visit OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction web page.