OSHA Celebrates 7th Annual National Safety Stand-Down Month

Throughout the month of May, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be celebrating its seventh annual National Safety Stand-Down. Research shows falls are one of the leading causes of work-related injuries in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nearly one-third of all fatal injuries in the construction industry in 2018 were attributed to falls. To raise awareness for the dangers of falls in the workplace, OSHA is hosting its National Safety Stand-Down throughout the month of May.

What is the Safety Stand-Down?

The Safety Stand-Down is an national event held by OSHA once a year during which the organization encourages employers to host toolbox talks, as well as other safety discussions, to raise awareness to common work-related hazards that could otherwise lead to fall-related injuries.

Employers aren't required to participate in the Safety Stand-Down. Rather, it's a completely voluntary event. Employers can device whether or not they want to host these toolbox talks and safety discussions with their employees. With that said, participating in Safety Stand-Down is certainly a good idea. As previously mentioned, falls are responsible for about one in three fatal injuries in the construction industry. By participating in the Safety Stand-Down, construction companies can engage their employees with important safety discussions to lower the risk of fall-related injuries.

How to Participate in the National Safety Stand-Down 

Whether you work in the construction industry or any other industry, you should consider participating in OSHA's seventh annual Safety Stand-Down. OSHA encourages all employers to participate in this national safety event. It offers employers a chance to discuss safety hazards to which their employees may be exposed.

If you're planning to participate in the Safety Stand-Down, you should start by identifying some of the most common safety hazards in your workplace. Next, schedule a meeting with your employees to discuss these hazards. During this meeting, you can raise awareness to the hazards while offering solutions on how employees can avoid them.

"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. Managers are encouraged to plan a stand-down that works best for their workplace anytime," wrote OSHA on its official website when discussing this year's Safety Stand-Down.

You can learn more about OSHA's seventh annual Safety Stand-Down by clicking here.