Prevent 269 Fall Fatalities and Stand-Down

Construction contractors can prevent falls from heights. Plan ahead for safety, provide the right equipment, and train workers to use the equipment safely. Join the National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction and Stand-Down.

In 2012, there were 269 fall fatalities out of 775 total fatalities in construction. Those deaths were preventable. More construction workers die from falls than from any other on-the-job injury. Falls account for one-third of the work-related deaths suffered by construction workers. Almost two-thirds of those fatal falls were from roofs, scaffolds, and ladders.

Safety Pays. Falls Cost.

The best in the business play it safe. Construction contractors can prevent falls from heights on their worksites.

Plan ahead to do the job safely before starting each and every job.
Provide the right equipment for working at heights.
Training workers to use the equipment properly and to work safely on roofs, ladders, and scaffolds.

Watch this video and learn how a construction framer protects his crew from falls.

Join our ongoing campaign and the National Fall Prevention Safety Stand-Down during the week of June 2-6, 2014

The National Campaign

The National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction first launched on April 26, 2012 as a government-labor-management partnership with CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training (a NIOSH-supported National Construction Center), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), state health departments, private industry, trade associations, academia, and professional and labor organizations. The campaign encourages residential-construction contractors, workers, and others in the industry to work safely at heights and use the right equipment.

This year we are asking employers to join our ongoing campaign and the National Fall Prevention Safety Stand-Down during the week of June 2-6, 2014. Set aside time during that week to have an open discussion with your employees about falls and how to prevent them. Last year, nearly 2,500 employers and over 50,000 workers took part in regional stand-downs that were held around the country raising awareness of fall hazards and how to prevent them. This year our goal is to involve 25,000 employers and 500,000 workers. If we meet this goal, we will have touched almost 1 out of 10 construction workers in the country.

Fight Falls and Stand-Down!

Here is what you can do to get started and prevent falls. Start with visiting stopconstructionfalls.com for posters, training materials, and more information about how to be a partner in the campaign. Set up an RSS feed so you can stay informed of the latest events and new materials.

Campaign partners can also:

Stop Falls and Stand-Down! Employers can receive formal recognition for participating if they complete a questionnaire and print their Certificate of Participation
Check your ladder – NIOSH Ladder Safety App
Get the word out! Put a campaign link on your website, an announcement in your newsletter, a post on your Facebook page, or follow @NIOSHConstruct on Twitter and re-tweet the latest campaign news
Produce and distribute campaign materials: learn how "How-to Guide for Building a Local Campaign[564 KB]"
Promote, host, or sponsor trainings, demonstrations, or other campaign-related events: need ideas, check out the "Stand-Down: Getting Started Plan "
Reach out to new partners in government, labor, and industry.
Assist with evaluating the effectiveness of the campaign.