U.S. Department of Labor Safety Initiative Seeks to Reduce Fall Hazards at Pacific Northwest Construction Sites

SEATTLE, WA – To prevent fall hazards in the Pacific Northwest's construction industry, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is currently engaged in a Regional Emphasis Program (REP) in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho. 

The REP calls for an increased focus on education and prevention outreach, while OSHA continues its response to complaints, referrals, hospitalizations, and fatalities. Enforcement activities will begin after the outreach period, and include on-site inspections, and evaluations of construction operations, working conditions, recordkeeping, and safety and health programs to ensure compliance.

"Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry," said OSHA Regional Administrator Barbara Goto, in San Francisco. "This emphasis program is designed to reinforce the requirement to use fall protection systems to protect workers from serious and fatal injuries."

For more information and resources on protecting construction workers from falls, visit OSHA's Fall Protection webpage.

OSHA offers compliance assistance to all employers at no charge. Each state has an On-Site Consultation Program, a free and confidential program to help small- and medium-sized employers learn about potential hazards at their workplace and improve safety and health programs.

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 http://www.osha.gov.