Videos Among New OSHA Resources for Protecting Workers from Falls

OSHA is urging employers to protect workers from falls—the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry. In a recent press release, OSHA highlights its collection of compliance assistance resources to address falls in the workplace. These resources support the goals of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Compliance Initiatives, or OCI, which was launched in August as a new agency effort to strengthen DOL’s compliance assistance outreach. According to OSHA, falls can be prevented if employers plan ahead to ensure jobs are done safely; provide the right equipment; and train workers to use equipment safely.

OSHA’s resources for preventing falls in the workplace include a Fall Prevention Training Guide (PDF); fact sheets on ladders and scaffolding that provide guidance on the safe use of equipment; and a series of fall-safety videos that cover how to prevent construction-related fall hazards from floor openings, skylights, fixed scaffolds, bridge decking, reroofing, and leading edge work. In May, the agency will host its sixth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, a weeklong outreach event intended to raise awareness among employers and workers about fall hazards in the workplace, especially in the construction industry.

Additional education materials on preventing falls in construction are available from OSHA’s website.