More than 1M workers expected to "Stand-Down" for fall safety

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
Release Number: 14-1006-NAT

For Immediate Release
May 30, 2014
Contact: Lauren North
Phone: 202-693-4655

Email: north.lauren.a@dol.gov

More than 1M workers expected to “Stand-Down” for fall safety

 US Labor Secretary and head of OSHA kick off initiative
with press teleconference call on Monday, June 2, at 1 pm EDT 

WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of employers and more than 1 million workers across the country are joining the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from June 2 - 6 in safety stand-downs to focus on saving lives and preventing fatalities from falls in the construction industry. Falls are the leading cause of death in construction and more than 300 workers lost their lives in falls during 2012. Lack of fall protection is the most frequently cited OSHA violation, proving that these deaths are preventable when employers provide the right safety equipment and properly train workers how to use it. As a part of the Stand-Down, companies and workers will voluntarily stop work to host safety events focusing on how to prevent these fatalities.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez and Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels will be kicking off this week-long series of events at 1 p.m. EDT on Monday, June 2, during a press teleconference.

WHO:              U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez

                        Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels

WHAT:           Press teleconference to kick-off of National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction

HOW:              Dial-in number: 800-619-2534

                        Passcode: OSHA          

WHEN:           Monday, June 2

                        1 p.m. EDT

                        Add to your iCal/Outlook calendar

Join the conversation on Twitter by using #StandDown4Safety and tagging @USDOL

Press interested in participating in this event should contact
Kimberly Darby at darby.kimberly@dol.gov or Mary Brandenberger at brandenberger.mary@dol.gov
or by calling 202-693-1892.

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