WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today that it will host a webinar on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, to kick-off the 7th annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, Sept. 14-18, 2020. OSHA will conduct the webinar on Monday, Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. EDT. Featured speakers include:

• Loren Sweatt, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health
• Scott Ketcham, Director, OSHA Directorate of Construction
• John Howard, MD, Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Scott Earnest, PhD, Director, NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health
• Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director, Center for Construction Research and Training

Register in advance for the webinar. Follow the webinar at #StandDown4Safety and #2020kickoff.

The Stand-Down encourages companies and workers to pause during the workday for topical discussions, safety demonstrations, and training in hazard recognition and fall prevention. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, OSHA is encouraging employers to promote fall safety virtually or while employing social distancing practices among small groups.

OSHA anticipates thousands of employers nationwide to participate this year. To guide their efforts, the agency is offering a National Fall Prevention Safety Stand-Down webpage with information on conducting a successful event, how to post local events, and additional educational resources in English and Spanish. Employers are encouraged to provide feedback after their events and to obtain a personalized certificate of participation.

For a list of the week’s activities, please visit the Stand-Down events page at https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/calendar.html.

The fall-prevention stand-down is a national campaign that was developed in partnership between OSHA, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) and the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR). Also supporting the event this year are OSHA-approved State Plans, state consultation programs, American Society of Safety Engineers, National Safety Council, National Construction Safety Executives, U.S. Air Force, OSHA Training Institute Education Centers and several Hispanic organizations.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

# # #