On April 16, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) encouraged employers and safety professionals to participate in the 12th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction from May 5 to 9. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) partners in the stand-down include the ASSP, the National Safety Council, the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), and the National Construction Safety Executives.
Falls from height are the leading cause of death for construction workers, with more than 300 fatalities and 20,000 serious injuries occurring each year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data cited by the ASSP. Workers face risks on roofs, above-floor openings, and sometimes lower levels, according to the group.
Last September, OSHA announced its construction industry fall protection standard remained its most frequently cited standard for a 14th straight year.
Employers can participate in the stand-down in many ways, according to the ASSP. They can stop work to deliver a toolbox talk, perform a safety equipment inspection, conduct a rescue-planning exercise, or discuss job-specific hazards.
OSHA offers resources for conducting a safety stand-down, including training guides and fact sheets, ladder safety and scaffolding guidance, fall safety videos, hard hat stickers, and hazard alert cards. Materials are available in multiple languages.
The ASSP also encouraged employers to use the #StandDown4Safety hashtag on social media to share stories and recommendations during the weeklong observance, which coincides with National Construction Safety Week.
Webinars to help employers prepare for the safety stand-down include “Get Ready for the 2025 Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction!” at 2 p.m. ET on April 29 and “How to Address ‘Leading Edges’ and Other Barriers to the Use of Overhead Anchorage for Work at Heights,” set for 2 p.m. ET on May 1.
Safety 2025 keynote sessions
On April 14, the ASSP announced three keynote sessions planned for its Safety 2025 Professional Development Conference and Exposition in Orlando.
Its annual conference will be at the Orange County Convention Center July 22 to 24.
The keynote sessions include the following:
- An Opening General Session from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET on July 22 featuring Shasta Nelson, a leading expert on relationships who has helped companies like Google and LinkedIn improve employee retention, engagement, and collaboration.
- The panel discussion “The Silent Hazard: Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and the Role of EHS Professionals” from 1 to 2 p.m. ET on July 23, moderated by the ASSP’s 2025 to 2026 president, Linda Tapp. The discussion will cover the impact of mental health issues in construction, where the suicide rate is four times higher than that of the general population.
- A Closing General Session from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET on July 24 featuring author and entrepreneur Liz Bohannon, who will offer actionable strategies for creating authentic, relationship-driven organizations where every person feels valued and supported.
Safety professionals attending Safety 2025 can earn 1.5 continuing education units (CEUs) for career advancement.
The ASSP was founded in 1911 as the United Association of Casualty Inspectors following the Triangle Shirtwaist fire in which 123 workers perished. The group was renamed the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) in 1914 before taking its current name in 2018.