Press Releases
05/07/2018
DPH Promotes National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction
The CT Department of Public Health (DPH) today encouraged employers and managers to take time during National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction week, May 7-11, 2018, to discuss job hazards and safety with their employees. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), each day more than a dozen workers die as a result of a traumatic injury at work. Falls are the number one cause of construction worker fatalities in the United States, accounting for one-third of on-the-job deaths in the industry.
Falls continue to be one of the biggest contributors to workplace fatalities in Connecticut, as well. Just recently, a worker in Vernon fell 10 feet through an open stairwell, resulting in her death. Many fatal workplace falls are preventable and incidents such as this highlight the need for the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction.
“In cooperation with other state agencies, the Connecticut Department of Public Health is committed to preventing falls in the workplace by educating workers and employers about potential workplace fall hazards, informing workers of their rights to a safe and healthy workplace, and ensuring employers meet their responsibilities for providing the safest work environment possible,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino.
During National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction week, employers are encouraged to talk directly to employees about safety by taking a break from regular operations to have a toolbox talk or other safety activity, such as conducting equipment inspections, developing emergency plans, or discussing job specific hazards focused on eliminating slip, trip, and fall hazards. Employers can also use this opportunity to have a conversation with employees about the other job hazards they face, protective methods to eliminate hazards, and the company's safety policies and goals. It can also be an opportunity for employees to talk to management about fall and other job hazards they see.
Managers are encouraged to plan a stand-down that works best for their workplace anytime or multiple times during the week of May 7-11, 2018. For more information about the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction or how to protect yourself and your coworkers from falls in your workplace, feel free to contact the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s Occupational Health Unit at (860) 509-7740 or dph.occhealth@ct.gov.