NSC Stands with OSHA on Fall Safety

Join the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls

In 2023, 725 workers died after falling from roofs, ladders, scaffolding or other elevated surfaces —known as “falls to a lower level.” In 2021 and 2022, these types of falls caused 129,010 injuries serious enough to result in days away from work, job restrictions or transfers. Every one of these incidents was preventable.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, with support from the National Safety Council and dozens of other groups, encourages employers to pause work briefly to discuss fall protection and safety during the 2025 National Safety Stand-Down May 5-9.

What is the National Safety Stand-Down?

The National Safety Stand-Down began as a two-year initiative in 2012 to raise awareness about preventing fall hazards in construction. Its success transformed it into an annual event at the start of each construction season in May. The Stand-Down provides dedicated time for employers to address this critical safety issue through training, inspections and open conversations. Tens of thousands of employers and millions of workers have participated since its inception.

Every Industry Can Participate

Falls happen in construction, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and other industries that involve working from height. Companies of all sizes can participate – roughly half of events nationwide are held by businesses with 25 or fewer employees.

Five Simple Ways to Conduct a Stand-Down

Plan a Stand-Down that works for your workplace:

● Conduct a toolbox talk on ladder, scaffold or roof safety
● Perform a safety inspection with employees
● Develop a rescue plan
● Hold a training session
● Show a safety video

Earn a Certificate of Participation

Employers can provide information about their Stand-Down and download a Certificate of Participation following their event. This certificate recognizes the time and effort each organization devoted to talking about preventing falls with their crews.

OSHA welcomes feedback on the Stand-Down campaign and future outreach efforts. Email oshastanddown@dol.gov.

Access Free Resources

OSHA offers handouts, posters, quizzes, fact sheets, stickers, t-shirts and more and posts a list of Stand-Down events nationwide.

Register for two upcoming webinars: Get Ready for the 2025 Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction on April 29, and Fall Protection for Leading Edge Work on May 1. See five reasons why falls in construction keep happening and what you can do about it.

If you plan to host a free event, visit OSHA's events page to submit event details and contact your regional Stand-Down coordinator.

For more information, check out the FAQ list, 2025 posters (in English and Spanish), and highlights from previous Stand-Downs.

We Can All Prevent Falls and Save Lives

Falls are the second leading cause of preventable deaths and the third leading cause of preventable injuries on the job. Join OSHA’s annual National Safety Stand-down to Prevent Falls in May so we can all work together to keep workers safe.