This week (May 3 to May 7, 2021) is designated as National Construction Safety Week and the timing seems perfect as residential and commercial construction is at an all-time high, and the government is looking to increase spending on infrastructure. More work means more money, more jobs, but also more risk of workplace injuries.
We know construction workers face some of the highest risks for injuries at work and that falls on job sites account for some of the most serious injuries, including a large number of workplace deaths. In fact, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Fatalities, falls accounted for one-fourth of construction fatalities in 2019. What’s worse is that workers in New Hampshire and across the country continue to be placed at risk every day despite the fact that many of these injuries could easily be preventable.
That’s where Construction Safety Week comes in. By designating this week as Safety Week, Construction Industry Leaders hope to draw attention to not just to the hazards that exist, but to the practical and preventive measures available to reduce the risk of injury at work.
In a tag team effort, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA, has partnered with the construction industry to encourage employers to learn how to better control fall-related hazards, and improve their safety and health programs, to reduce the risk of serious and fatal injuries from falls. OSHA has dedicated this week as National Safety Stand-Down Week. You can visit OSHA’s national safety stand down web page for resources and information about events, training and other safety measures aimed at preventing falls in the construction industry.
For more information about preventing falls in the workplace, follow this link: https://www.osha.gov/stopfalls/
For more information about the National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, follow this link: https://www.OSHA.gov/stop-falls-stand-down
Companies across the country are getting onboard to offer fall protection courses, online safety resources, safety checklists, videos, articles, and blog posts, aimed at providing FREE, accessible information for employers and employees looking to make their workplace safer with the goal of reducing workplace injuries.