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GroundBreak Carolinas

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Safety

Gearing Up for National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Construction Falls

by GroundBreak Carolinas Staff on

The lead story in the March-April 2018 issue of Labor Ledger, the bi-monthly newsletter published by the N.C. Department of Labor (NC DOL), is dedicated to this year’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Construction Falls.  NC DOL Public Information Officer Mary Katherine Revels begins the article by laying out the facts:  “Falls continue to be one of the leading causes of work-related deaths statewide. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has declared the National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction to take place May 7-11, 2018. The 5th annual event is an opportunity for businesses to bring attention to fall hazards around the workplace and emphasize the importance of fall prevention.  The purpose of this stand-down is to provide an opportunity for employers and employees to talk about hazards, protective methods and safety policies.”

“NCDOL will once again partner with OSHA on this very important initiative to raise awareness about falls,” Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. “I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all construction companies, both commercial and residential, to dedicate time during the week of May 7-11 to focus on fall prevention efforts and training so that together we can prevent falls from happening on construction sites throughout North Carolina.”

In South Carolina, the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR)/SC OSHA is giving equal attention to the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Construction Falls, citing on its website, “Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 370 of the 991 construction fatalities recorded in 2016 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.”

How Can Businesses Participate?

  • Have a toolbox talk or another safety activity.
  • Develop rescue plans.
  • Discuss job-specific hazards.
  • Attend a fall protection event.

In North Carolina: Sign up for a free webinar provided by NCDOL’s Education, Training and Technical Assistance Bureau.

In South Carolina: For specific information about Fall Prevention Programs, or to share information on your Safety Stand-Downs in South Carolina, contact Harvey.Jessup@llr.sc.gov.

Companies in both states are encouraged to share their 2018 Stand-Down stories on social media, with the hashtag: #StandDown4Safety.

For more information about the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, visit OSHA’s website.