During the week of May 2-6, 2022, Cal/OSHA Consultation staff participated in events for the National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction at various construction sites throughout California. Consultation participated in six stand-down events attended by a total of 1,000 employees representing general contractors and trade partners. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 351 of the 1,008 construction fatalities in 2020.

Federal OSHA promotes the annual national week-long event as a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about workplace safety and fall prevention. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on fall hazards and reinforcing the importance of fall prevention. Some of the participating employers hosted live safety demonstrations, provided safety and health trainings for their employees, and invited various safety vendors to highlight the latest safety products.

Employers such as Clark Construction invited Consultation staff to speak to job site employees at its Snapdragon Football Stadium Project in San Diego. Senior Safety Engineer Aston Ling spoke about Cal/OSHA’s role in protecting employees, how it can help employers control their risk, described the resources that are available to employers, and handed out Cal/OSHA’s Construction Pocket Guide. Associate Safety Engineer Mike Martinka spoke to project workers and team members to highlight the importance of wearing fall protection, reviewed California’s Title 8 trigger height requirements, and reminded attendees of the deadly consequences for those who do not properly protect themselves from fall hazards at work.

More information and resources regarding fall protection and the National Stand-Down can be found at OSHA’s National Stand-Down webpage.

The OSHA On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories, with priority given to high hazard worksites. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards and how to fix them, provide advice for compliance with OSHA standards, train and educate workers, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health programs. On-Site Consultation services are separate from OSHA enforcement efforts and do not result in penalties or citations. To locate the OSHA On-Site Consultation program nearest you, call 800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit https://www.osha.gov/Consultation.