by Barry Maxwell, MS
Safety Services Manager
Fatalities caused by falls from elevation is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for workers, with over 600 workers dying annually and almost 50,000 injured each year due to falls from elevation. All these deaths and injuries are preventable.
Each May, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), with the support of multiple other groups, asks employers to take a few minutes to discuss fall protection and safety when working from heights. Tens of thousands of employers and millions of workers have participated in this annual event since 2012.
While construction workers are most at risk, falls can happen in general industry, transportation and any industry that have workers on elevated work surfaces. No company is too small to participate, with most participating companies having 25 or fewer employees. A Safety Stand-down can be a one-time event, or it can incorporate fall-safety events periodically over a week or two.
If you need assistance with fall protection, such as a facility audit, training, equipment inspections or any other safety related services, please contact EI Safety Services Manager, Barry Maxwell, at (919) 280-8797 or bmaxwell@ei1.com for further support.