A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. The National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction focuses on Fall Hazards and reinforcing the importance of Fall Prevention.

The 11th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is scheduled for May 6-10, 2024.

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.

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.

Participation is easy! Hold a Stand-Down and visit the OSHA Stand-Down website to download a Certificate. Employers will be able to provide feedback and download Certificates of Participation based on their experience. The certificate pages will be active on May 2 at OSHA's Stop Falls Stand-Down page and at the National Safety Council's (NSC) webpages.

One of the most important reasons you should participate through gaining a certificate is to demonstrate your commitment to fall prevention and other safety issues on the jobsite to your employees. Employees and other employers alike recognize the importance of demonstrated top level commitment to promoting a positive safety culture. There are Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Certificates, depending on how many years you have participated. OSHA and our partners also use the attendance data and feedback from the certificate form submission to enhance and further improve this event for the future.

Yes, you can! Participation 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.

Yes. Several domestic and international companies working outside of the United States participated in past Stand-Downs and we are hoping to have more international participation this year.

Yes. Any number of people can hold a Stand-Down. Companies and businesses of all sizes should take time out during the workday to discuss fall prevention with their employees, and participate in the Stand-Down. You can also find a larger Stand-Down Event in your area.

View our Suggestions page on preparing a successful Stand-Down as well as the Resources and Events pages.

Contact your Regional Stand-Down coordinator to talk to someone about your Stand-Down event.

A list of Events in your area can be found by visiting OSHA's Stand-Down website. These events are free and open to the public. Attendees of these Events (including any members of the press) must cooperate with the host employers' site access and safety rules.

OSHA lists Events which are free and open to the public. This webpage helps employers and employees find Stand-Down events that they can attend in their area. Contact your Regional Stand-Down coordinator to learn more.

No. The Stand-Down is free and you do not have to "register" to participate. Simply hold a Stand-Down with your employees during Stand-Down week and go online to tell us about your Stand-Down and download a certificate of participation at OSHA's Stop Falls Stand-Down or National Safety Council's (NSC) webpage after your Stand-Down event.

It's up to you. A Stand-Down could be as simple as a 15 minute toolbox talk or several hours of training over a week.

Yes. Certificates will be available from May 1 until June 30th, to allow companies to participate in the Stand-Down. Visit OSHA's Stop Falls Stand-Down or National Safety Council's (NSC) webpage to download your certificate.