OSHA News Release
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Region 7
Region 7 News Release: 14-993-KAN
June 2, 2014
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov
Safety Pays, Falls Cost: McCarthy Buildings Co. hosts
OSHA Fall Safety Stand-Down event in Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Mo.
JOPLIN, Mo. – Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, and they accounted for 12 percent of all occupational injuries in 2012. In an effort to prevent these injuries and fatalities through education and outreach, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration launches the 2014 Fall Safety Stand-Down, which will be held from June 2-6. An estimated 1 million workers and 25,000 businesses, including construction industry leaders, will halt their work for one hour during that week to discuss the importance of recognizing fall hazards and implementing fall safety measures.
McCarthy Building Co. will be a part of this nationwide effort on Tuesday, June 3 beginning at 11 a.m. More than 450 workers are expected to attend the event at the Mercy Hospital construction site, 300 E. 50th Street, Joplin. The stand-down is being coordinated through the Kansas City Area OSHA office and will include presentations and training on fall safety.
"Falls account for more than a third of all deaths in the construction industry," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "One fall can cost an employer their business and a worker their life. Every person participating in these events is showing their commitment to preventing a senseless loss of life and livelihood."
The stand-down is part of OSHA's ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign, which was started in 2012 and was developed in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and NIOSH's National Occupational Research Agenda program.
WHO: Ryan Felton, McCarthy Building Co.
Kevin Maitland, McCarthy Building Co.
Bill McDonald, Acting OSHA Regional Director, Kansas City, Mo.
Todd Sieleman, OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist, Kansas City Area Office
WHAT: Fall Safety Stand-Down
WHERE: Mercy Hospital Jobsite
300 E. 50th Street
Joplin, Mo. 64804
WHEN: Tuesday, June 3, 2014
11 a.m. CDT
Add to your iCal/Outlook calendar
Join the conversation on Twitter by using #StandDown4Safety and tagging @USDOL
Press interested in attending these events should contact
Scott Allen or Rhonda Burke using the contact information provided above
or Ryan Felton, McCarthy Buildings Co., 314-627-9915
Kevin Maitland, McCarthy Building Co., 314-378-1919
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