Falls are the leading cause of death in construction, with more than 200 deaths and over 10,000 serious injuries each year in the US. In Oregon there were 71 deaths from falls during 2003-2013 and 29 were in construction. The annual weeklong National Safety Stand-Down and Fall Prevention campaign began in 2012. This year, during a two-week period (May 4 -15), leaders are encouraged to set aside time to have open discussions with workers about falls and how to prevent them. Employers can receive formal recognition for participating in the Stand-Down if they complete a small online questionnaire and print their “Certificate of Participation.”

A special event, the Portland, OR Stand-Down, will be held May 8, 2015 at the Sheet Metal Institute, 2379 NE 178th Ave. from 8:00-3:00. The event will include a 5-hour course “Fall Hazard Awareness for the Construction Industry.” The focus of this course is to identify, evaluate, and prevent or control fall hazards at construction sites. The course focuses on falls to a lower level, not falls to the same level resulting from slips and falls. The target audience is the small construction employer, business owner, or manager who would like to obtain information about fall hazards found in the workplace. The training is also suitable for employees and employee representatives. Topics include identifying fall hazards, analyzing fall hazards, and preventing fall hazards as well as OSHA resources addressing fall hazards. Local industry representatives will also guest speak at this special event.

OR-FACE is partnered with the OSHA Training Institute, AGC Oregon Columbia Chapter, Oregon Home Builders Association, SafeBuild Alliance and Oregon OSHA to host the Stand-Down Event on May 8. Program, registration information and additional resources are provided on the OR-FACE website.