US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association
Demonstrate your commitment to workplace safety by participating in the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction anytime during the week of May 7-11. A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety, in this case the focus is on fall hazards and reinforcing the importance of fall prevention. A stand-down can take place in as little as 15 minutes for a toolbox talk or as much as several hours of training over a week. Please see the Suggestions to Prepare for a Successful Stand-Down and Highlights from the Past Stand-Downs.
Why is this important? Fatalities caused by falls continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 370 of the 991 construction fatalities recorded in 2016 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.
Not a construction company? Not a problem! Falls are the second leading cause of workplace death following highway accidents. Falls can happen in general industry (i.e. hotels, retail, manufacturing, medical offices), agriculture, shipyards and practically any industry that may involve working from height. Some examples include working on ladders or scaffolds for building maintenance purposes while trimming trees or even while walking down a cluttered stairwell.
Employers of companies not exposed to fall hazards can also use this opportunity to have a conversation with employees about the other job hazards they face, protective methods and the company’s safety policies and goals. It can also be an excellent opportunity for employees to talk to management about any job hazards they see.
*Free* Safety in Paradise Workshop for the National Safety Stand-Down. Safety in Paradise will be providing free workshops to interested employers for the National Safety Stand-Down. The workshops will take place on St. Croix and on St. Thomas, and will include handouts, stand-down materials (stickers, posters) and group activities. Please follow our Safety in Paradise page on Facebook for more information as we will be posting the final details shortly. (Time and dates will vary by location.)
Resources: Visit the National Safety Stand-Down webpage including the frequently asked questions page for more information and resources to help you prepare for conducting a stand-down at your workplace. Employers will be able to earn a Certificate of Participation after participating in the stand-down. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us for more information.
Stay tuned for upcoming Safety in Paradise (SIP) planned events, including OSHA Construction 10-Hr trainings, by visiting our Facebook page.