The NIOSH / NORA Construction Sector Council’s 4th annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents takes place this week, April 17-21, in conjunction with National Work Zone Awareness Week. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on "Struck-by Hazards" and reinforcing the importance of training and prevention.

Struck-by hazards are present on nearly every job site, and include things like falling and flying objects, vehicles and heavy equipment, and swing hazards from cranes. These incidents are the number one cause of nonfatal injuries in construction and the leading cause of death among heavy and civil construction workers, but they can be avoided by careful planning, training, and the use of controls.

Contractors, workers, and safety professionals across the nation are invited to join this event. Workers can be educated on hazard prevention including topics such as avoiding blind-spots around large equipment, proper use of high-visibility clothing, creation of lift plans, use of tool tethers and safety nets, and use of safer pneumatic nail guns and other air-powered tools.

CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training offers the following tips for preventing falling objects:

• Use rope pulley systems with brakes for hoisting and lowering tasks
• Communicate clearly when hoisting and lowering material
• Provide training which includes hazard recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions
• Develop standard operating procedures for lowering objects that include clear voice and visual signals
• Barricade fall zones
• Follow manufacturer specifications for all equipment used

The Kick-Off Webinar for The NIOSH / NORA Construction Sector Council’s 4th annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents is Monday, April 17, at 2:00pm EST. Click here to learn more: https://www.cpwr.com/.../other.../struck-by-hazards/

Credit: NIOSH / NORA, CPWR

HazTek Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive safety management services designed to protect workers by enhancing workplace safety. We offer professional, classroom-based training on more than 75 different topics – including a Work Zone Flagger class. For additional information or to learn more about HazTek’s services, please contact us at 888.842.9835, email us at info@haztekinc.com, or visit our website at www.haztekinc.com