2026 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls is May 4-8

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees. Falls caused 395 of the 1,069 construction fatalities recorded in 2022. To help reduce construction falls, employers and workers are invited to participate in the annual OSHA National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction, to be held May 4-8 this year.

The week-long outreach event coincides with Construction Safety Week and encourages employers and workers to pause during the work day to talk about fall hazards and prevention.

Online Fall-Prevention Events

Kick-Off the 2026 Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction

May 4, 2026 – 2:00 pm ET
Start your National Safety Stand-Down week (May 4th-8th) by joining OSHA, NIOSH. and CPWR for an official launch event. This webinar will feature a case study of a real fall incident, provide an overview of the most up-to-date available data on trends in falls in construction, and highlight the extensive library of free resources available from the National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction. It will also offer attendees the opportunity to ask questions and make recommendations to campaign leaders. Register here.

Fall Prevention Through Design

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – 1:00 pm ET
By thinking about safety during the building design process and when designing the jobsite and work itself, hazards and risks can be minimized before the work ever begins. On this webinar, attendees will learn more about how project owners and contractors anticipate and “design out” fall-related hazards in buildings, work methods, processes, equipment, tools, and the overall organization of the work. *Live English-to-Spanish interpretation will be available.

Panelists: • Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, Executive Director, CPWR • Brian A. Rizzo, Acting Director, Directorate of Construction, OSHA • Donald Peterson, PhD, Director, Division of Safety Research; NIOSH • Bob Moser, PE, CSP, Senior Director, Safety Engineering, Jacobs • Ian Umstead, MS, CSP, CHST, Safety Manager, DPR Construction. Register here.

Top Three Things to Know About Working on Roofs

Friday, May 8 – 1:00 pm ET
Join roofing safety experts to learn about key training priorities for workers who work on roofs. Panelists will provide an overview of information on falls from and through roofs, describe the recommended breadth of fall prevention training, and then focus on three top training priorities. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask technical questions about roofing safety and training. *Live English-to-Spanish interpretation will be available.

Panelists: • Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, Executive Director, CPWR • Brian A. Rizzo, Acting Director, Directorate of Construction, OSHA • Donald Peterson, PhD, Director, Division of Safety Research; NIOSH • Joel Gonzalez, Trust Fund Field Director, Roofers & Waterproofers Research and Education Joint Trust Fund • Matt Wittenborn, Instructor, Roofers & Waterproofers Research and Education Joint Trust Fund. Register here.

What is a Safety Stand-Down?

A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on fall hazards and reinforcing the importance of fall prevention. It’s an opportunity for employers to have a conversation with employees about hazards, protective methods and the company’s safety policies and goals.

It can also be an opportunity for employees to talk to management about fall hazards they see. Companies can conduct a Safety Stand-Down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity such as conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans, or discussing job specific hazards. Managers are encouraged to plan a stand-down that works best for their workplace anytime during the week.

Suggestions for a Successful Stand-Down

Promote Your Safety Stand-Down

1. Try to start early. Designate a coordinator to organize the stand-down. If you have multiple work sites, identify the team that will lead the stand-down at each site.

2. Get others involved. Ask your subcontractors, owner, architects, engineers, or others associated with your project to participate in the stand-down.

3. Promote your stand-down to workers, subcontractors and everyone else on your project. You can use posters, banners and hard-hat labels, for example.

4. Review your fall prevention program – and what types of falls are likely to occur at your worksite. This will help provide a more effective stand-down. Common incidents include falls from:

• Ladders
• Roofs
• Scaffolds
• Stairs
• Structural steel
• Falls through a floor or roof opening or a fragile roof surface

Fall Protection Questions to Ask:

What needs improvement? Is your program meeting its goals? Are you experiencing fatalities, injuries, or near misses? Are employees aware of the company’s fall protection procedures? What training have you provided to your employees? Does it need revision? What equipment have you provided to employees? Is better equipment available?

5 Steps For Your Stand-Down

1. Develop presentations or activities that will meet the needs of your employees. The meeting should provide information about hazards, protective methods, and the company’s safety policies, goals and expectations. Hands-on exercises (a worksite walkaround, equipment checks, etc.) can increase retention.
2. Decide when to hold the stand-down and how long it will last. Decide if the stand-down will take place over a break, a lunch period or some other time.
3. Promote the stand-down. Make it interesting to employees. Some employers find that serving snacks increases participation.
4. Hold your stand-down. Be positive and interactive. Let employees talk about their experiences and encourage them to make suggestions.
5. Follow up. If you learn something that could improve your fall prevention program, consider making changes.

Stand-Down Resources:

• Stand-Down and Fall Prevention Materials
• Stand-Down FAQs
• Find events in your area
• Construction Safety Week information
• Construction Safety banners
• Browse Ladder Safety signs and Fall Protection PPE signs.