2023 Safety Stand-Down to Be Held in May

The 2023 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is scheduled for May 1–5, OSHA announced via its QuickTakes e-newsletter. The annual safety stand-down is intended to raise awareness of fall hazards and to encourage conversations about fall prevention. According to OSHA, fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death among construction workers: in 2020, 351 of the 1,008 fatalities recorded in construction were attributed to falls.

Workplaces that have participated in previous safety stand-downs include commercial construction companies, residential construction contractors, subcontractors and independent contractors, highway construction companies, general industry employers, the U.S. military, other government participants, unions, trade associations, institutes, employee interest organizations, and safety equipment manufacturers. OSHA encourages any employer who wants to prevent hazards in the workplace to participate. Employers whose workers are not exposed to fall hazards can use the safety stand-down as an opportunity to focus on other job hazards, protective methods, and safety policies and goals.

The website for the safety stand-down provides resources for employers and employees, including free training materials, videos, and additional educational resources. Highlights​ from previous years are also available.​​​​​