3M’s Capital Safety business announced plans to host fall-protection demonstrations throughout the U.S. on May 2-6, during OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down, a campaign to remind and educate employers and workers in the construction industry about the serious dangers of falls and dropped objects.
The third annual Stand-Down follows a year when construction-worker deaths from falls have increased. The percentage of construction industry deaths from falls has continued to trend upward from 34.6 percent (279 out of 806 total deaths) in 2012 to 39.9 percent (349 out of 874 total deaths) in 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3M Capital Safety said.
A 3M Capital Safety truck at a demonstration of fall-protection awareness benefits. Credit: Business Wire
During the campaign, employers and workers will be asked to take a break from their work day to discuss fall protection, and attend demonstrations and trainings on how to use safety harnesses, guard rails, fall protection for tools, personal protective equipment, and more.
Capital Safety has deployed more than 30 fully-customized fall demonstration vehicles to work sites across the country to offer construction workers and safety managers access to training equipment and fall-prevention presentations. Training specialists will be traveling to hundreds of locations in nearly all 50 states to host on-site training focusing on enhancing awareness, education and compliance of fall protection safety regulations.
3M’s “Safety Roadshow,” a 48-foot mobile training center capable of hosting 75-200 people, will be offering prescheduled, in-person personal safety and education demonstrations, including a stop at the 2016 Minnesota Safety & Health Conference, May 3-5, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
The Dodge Data & Analytics’ 2016 Construction Outlook, a mainstay in construction industry forecasting and business planning, reports that jobsite accidents and criminal indictments overall are on the rise.
In response, OSHA has heightened its focus on industry wrongdoing, and fall-protection specialists are increasing their efforts to help provide the resources and training needed to change the trends. 3M said it is hoping to help OSHA reach more than 2.5 million employers and workers across the country during this year’s event.
3M acquired Capital Safety in August 2015, adding Capital Safety’s fall protection solutions to 3M’s Personal Safety Division. The business manufactures fall-protection, confined-space and rescue equipment. More information: www.3M.com/fallprotection.
For more fall prevention education information:
- Access online education resources including training videos and support materials by visiting: 3m.com/fallprotection or www.3m.com/PPESafety.
- Request on-site training or learn more about training and compliance services by calling 800-328-6146.
