Fatalities caused by falls continue to be the leading cause of death for construction workers, and to help protect workers in our area, the West Virginia University Safety and Health Extension will help them identify fall hazards and prevent fall fatalities through a free, educational event on Monday, May 8.
Construction workers, employers and safety professionals are invited to join WVU Safety and Health Extension specialists at CSC Home and Hardware in Morgantown from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. that day as part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s 2017 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction campaign.
Safety demonstrations, giveaways, free fall hazard awareness training, safety technology showcases and other resources to educate workers and employers about prevalent fall hazards are scheduled. In addition, attendees can browse various informational stations to learn about safety measures for ladders, scaffolds, aerial lifts and more.
According to organizers, violations associated with fall prevention safety standards continue to be among the top 10 OSHA issued citations nationwide, a trend that can be addressed through education.
“The goal of OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction campaign is to raise awareness among workers and employers of the danger posed by falls on the jobsite and to highlight mechanisms to prevent them,” said Wayne Lundstrom, WVU Safety and Health Extension associate professor and director of the National Resource Center – OSHA Region III Training Center. “Falls on the jobsite can be fatal, and our goal is to educate about these risks and how to create a safe work environment. Too many workers continue to die every year from preventable falls on construction sites.”
While events are happening across the nation as part of the larger campaigns, all employers are encouraged to talk directly to employees about safety, including hazards, protective methods and the company’s safety policies and goals during the week. It can also be an opportunity for employees to talk to management about fall hazards they see around the workplace.
This year marks WVU Safety and Health Extension’s fourth year of participation in the annual, week-long OSHA campaign.
In addition to the event on Monday, free Fall Hazard Awareness and Fall Protection courses will be offered during the week in Morgantown and in other sites around OSHA region III including Erie, Pennsylvania and Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Area construction companies can also schedule a free, on-site tool box talk on fall prevention for their employees during the week. Contact WVU Safety and Health Extension for more information on these additional class offerings and tool-box talks.
There is limited space for the courses and preregistration is required. Visit www.wvusafetyandhealth.org to register today.
To learn more about WVU Safety and Health Extension, and the additional types of safety training and services offered, visit www.wvusafetyandhealth.org or call 1-800-626-4748.