The National Stand-Down Event

Stop falls, stand down for safety. Deaths that are caused by falls while working continue to be an issue leading the cause of death for employees in the construction field. In 2024, construction and extraction workers experiences 1,032 fatalities. Leading those deaths were falls, slips, and trips. There was a decrease in fatalities from falls in 2024 with 370 compared to the 400 from 2023. Roughly 10 out of the 34 workers in Michigan who had fatal injuries in 2024 were from falls.

All these deaths are preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall awareness around the country in effort to stop the fatalities and injuries from falls.

What is National Safety Stand-Down?

The National Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event from May 4-8, 2026, for employers to have a chance to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can have a stand-down and focus on how to prevent falls with topics like "Fall Hazards" and "Fall Protection". This isn't just about fall safety either, this is also a chance to have a conversation about overall safety like protective methods and how to manage certain hazards when they become visible. This event is important to know how you can apply safety to the workforce as well as your own company. This event is for anyone who would like to be there.

Partners

In the article, the author wrote: "OSHA is partnering with key groups to assist with this effort, including the 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 (NCSE), the U.S. Air Force, and the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers." (OSHA, 2026)

OSHA National Safety Stand-Down Event Flyer

Conducting a Safety Stand-Down Event

Companies can have a Safety Stand-Down event by taking time to focus on having a toolbox talk or another safety activity such as conducting inspections, create plans for a situation when someone is in need of rescue, as well as specific job hazards. Managers are encouraged to plan a stand-down that works best for their workplace anytime. See Suggestions to Prepare for a Successful "Stand-Down" and Highlights from the Past Stand-Downs.

For more information visit: National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction | Occupational Safety and Health Administration