Stand-Down For What? Pinnacle Career Institute participates in the National Safety Stand-Down with OSHA

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees.

These deaths were preventable.

In an attempt to raise fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries Pinnacle Career Institute will be participating in the National Safety Stand-Down.

What is a safety Stand-Down?

A safety stand down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Luckily for us this is a daily piece of our workplace environment in school as well as in field. The importance can’t be stressed enough to take a momentary break from normal workplace conversations as well as activities for the opportunity for employees to talk about management of job hazards they are likely to face. This National Safety Stand Down Event is to reinforce the importance of “Fall Prevention.” 

Why Participate?

Falls are the leading cause of construction fatalities. In 2021 there were almost 40% of falls from elevation contributing to all construction fatalities.

There are facts which should be followed by all employers which can prevent deaths;

• If you’re working at six or more feet in the air, use fall protection
• Before starting a new job, make a fall prevention plan
• Provide workers with the right equipment for the job
• Train everyone to use this equipment safely
• Inspect our harness, lanyard, and anchorage point prior to each use

Together if we focus on these facts, we will factually be better at protecting workers from fall hazards. Communicating the theme for the 10^th annual, 2023 National Safety Stand-Down is, “Strong Voices, Safe Choices.” Worker Participation is essential for workers to be and feel safe on their jobs.

Who can Participate?

Anyone who wants to prevent hazards in the workplace can participate in the Stand-Down. In the past, general industry employers in the United States, especially in the trade industries, were the only ones who pushed this event but now it’s a wide array of workplaces who are joining in the effort. 

Partners

OSHA is partnering with key groups to assist in this effort who include:

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA)
• OSHA approved State Plans 
• State Consultation Programs
• The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR)
• The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
• The National Safety Council
• The National Construction Safety Executives (NSCE)
• The U.S. Air Force 
• OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers

How-To Conduct a Safety Stand-Down

There are a few suggestions to prepare for a successful stand-down:

There should be a designated coordinator to organize the stand-down as well as a designated space in which the team can lead the stand-down

This could lead to a more effective stand-down

• Types of falls that could happen:
• Falls from ladders
• Falls from a roof
• Falls from a scaffold
• Falls down stairs
• Falls from a structural steel
• Falls through a floor
• Falls through a roof opening
• Falls through fragile roof surface
• What needs improvement? Is your program meeting its goals? Are you currently experiencing any fatalities, injuries, or any near misses? Do your employees aware of the company's fall protection procedures?
• What training have you provided to your employees? Any items in need of revision?
• What equipment have you provided to your employees? Is there better equipment available now?

What information will be BEST for your workplace and employees and how can this information be communicated about hazards, protective methods, and the company’s safety policies, goals, and expectations? Remember that retention can be increased through hands-on exercises.

For example, the Stand-Down could take place over a meal period or a break.

Perhaps serving snacks could increase attendance. Find any way to create interest to employees.

Create a positive and interactive experience. Encourage suggestions as well as let your employees talk about their experiences in order to improve participation annually.

Consider making any changes that could improve your fall prevention program if you learned anything new.

Developing rescue plans or discussing job-specific hazards by taking the previously discussed break from daily workplace activities. It is also essential to conduct safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans or discussing those job hazards. Make sure to include how falls can be prevented; PLAN ahead to get the job done safely, PROVIDE the right equipment, and TRAIN everyone to use the equipment safely.

Why Does OSHA Stress This Enforcement?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is authorized by the Occupational Safety Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) to assure employers provide safe and healthful conditions for working men and women free of recognized hazards and by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education, and technical assistance. OSHA sets enforcement policies and targeted inspection programs in order to properly respond to fatalities, catastrophes, and complaints. These intervention strategies are designed to deter, assist and work together with employers and employees in order to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. 

OSHA Inspection Activity

OSHA is committed to strong, fair and effective enforcement of safety and health requirements in the workplace. Inspectors, called compliance safety and health officers are experienced, well-trained industrial hygienists and safety professionals whose goal is to assure compliance with OSHA requirements and help employers and workers reduce on the job hazards, injuries and deaths. In 2021 OSHA conducted almost 25,000 inspections including over half of these being unvrogramed inspections which includes employee complaints, injuries, fatalities, and referrals. There are about 45% of these inspections which are programmed inspections that are focused OSHA’s enforcement resources towards industries and operations where known hazards exist. 

Inspection Priorities 

OSHA has jurisdiction over approximately 7 million worksites. The agency seeks to focus its inspection resources on the most hazardous workplaces in the following order of priority;

1. Imminent Danger Situations - Hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm will receive top priority.
2. Severe Injuries and Illnesses - Employers must report all work related fatalities and hospitalizations in a specific amount of time.
3. Worker Complaints - Allegations of hazards or violations will receive a high priority and anonymity is also an option when filing complaints. 
4. Referrals of Hazards - Federal, state or local agencies, individuals, organizations or the media receive consideration for inspection.
5. Targeted Inspections - Inspections aimed at specific high-hazard industries or individual workplaces that have experienced high rates of injuries and illnesses also receive priority.
6. Follow-Up Inspections - Check for abatement of violations cited during previous inspections are also conducted by the agency.

Results

When an inspector finds violations of OSHA standards or serious hazards, OSHA may issue citations and fines. OSHA must issue a citation and proposed penalty within six months of the violation’s occurrence. Any citation will include a description of the alleged violation, list any proposed penalties and give a deadline for correcting the alleged hazards. There are multiple violation categories which citations may include:

• Willful
• Serious
• Other-Than-Serious
• De Minimis
• Failure to Abate
• Repeated
  
  

There is a policy in place for small employers which reduces the proposed penalty based on the gravity of the alleged violation. This policy is typically referred to as a “good faith adjustment.”

Appeals

When there is a citation to an employer it also offers the employer an opportunity to conduct an informal conference with the OSHA Area Director to discuss citations, penalties, abatement dates, or any other information dating back to the original inspection. It is possible for the agency and the employer to resolve the matter in the form of a settlement agreement in order to eliminate the hazard. OSHA’s primary goal is to simply correct any hazards in the workplace and maintaining compliance as opposed to issuing any citations.

Workers’ Rights

There are a number of rights which belong to workers:

1. Working conditions that do not pose a risk of causing serious harm.
2. Receive information as well as training, in words that are understood by the worker, about any workplace hazards, methods to prevent them as well as OSHA standards applicable to them
3. Review all records consisting of work-related injuries and illnesses
4. File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard
5. Confidentially file a complaint against the employer if it is believed that there are rules not being followed by OSHA standards
6. Exercise their rights under the law without retaliation, including reporting an injury or raising health and safety concerns with their employer or OSHA
7. Ability to file a complaint with OSHA 30 days past any retaliation believed to have occurred

Contacting OSHA

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. The role of OSHA is to help ensure that these conditions for working women and men in America are essential by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, assistance and education.

For more information visit www.osha.gov/PreventFallsNow or call OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.