Stand Down for Safety
Construction work is dangerous work, and the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration shares that falls from elevations on job sites continue to be the leading cause of death for construction workers. In fact, of the 1,008 construction worker fatalities in 2018, 320 of them were the result of falls from elevations. In its efforts to raise awareness about these dangerous accidents and to help prevent them in the process, OSHA has its National Safety Stand-Down, which runs from September 14 -18, 2020.
What’s It All About?
The National Safety Stand-Down represents an opportunity for employers to voluntarily participate in a nationwide safety event by taking a break from work and talking to their employees candidly about the dangers of falls (fall hazards) and the importance of taking every precaution to prevent these dangerous accidents (fall prevention). For those employers whose employees aren’t typically exposed to fall hazards, they can steer this opportunity toward other safety practices, precautions, policies, and goals. The Stand-Down is also an ideal time for employees to speak up and share any safety hazards, including fall hazards, they have witnessed or experienced on the job.
Your Safety Stand-Down Event
To participate in the Safety Stand-Down, all your employer needs to do is plan a break – at a time that makes sense for your company and your fellow workers – and have a toolbox talk. These are simply informal safety meetings that focus on a topical subject, such as fall hazards and prevention. To explore the topic further, consider all of the following:
- Conducting safety inspections, including the inspection of equipment like ladders, scaffolding, and fall-protection equipment
- Developing robust rescue plans
- Discussing safety hazards that are specific to your work
OSHA offers suggestions for helping you prepare for successful participation in this year’s Stand-Down and also shares highlights from Stand-Downs in the past.
Reviewing Your Fall-Prevention Program
In order to help improve your company’s fall-prevention program, it’s important to consider the type of falls that you and your fellow workers are most susceptible to, including the following potential dangers:
- Falls from ladders or scaffolding
- Falls from structural steel
- Falls off of roofs
- Falls down flights of stairs
- Falls through the roof or floor openings or falls through weak roof surfaces
Falls from elevations come in many different forms, and they are all exceedingly dangerous.
Don’t Delay Consulting with an Experienced New York City Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a fall from an elevation on the job – or any kind of accident at work – you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. At Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman, our intrepid legal team has been proudly serving NYC for decades, and we are here to help you with your legal needs, as well. Our formidable personal injury attorneys have the experience, skill, and resources to help guide your claim toward a resolution that favors your best interests and upholds your rights. Your case is important, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 212-285-3300 today.
