Businesses throughout Houston and the country are promoting safety awareness during National Safety Stand-Down during May 6-10. The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) extends their Safety Stand-Down by a week to May 17.

The purpose of the event is to encourage employers to talk directly to employees about safety.

“Participating in the Safety Stand-Down creates an excellent opportunity for companies to bring fall protection to the forefront of their employees’ minds,” explained UTF Safety Specialist, Charlie Gertson.

According to OSHA’s website, fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 366 of the 971 construction fatalities recorded in 2017, with those deaths being preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and to prevent injuries.

Therefore, OSHA encourages companies to conduct a Safety Stand-Down by taking a break to have a “toolbox talk” or other safety activity such as conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans, or discussing job-specific hazards.

 “Since all jobsites are different, we conduct the demonstration at the jobsite. The (safety) demonstration consists of proper anchor attachment, inspection process of a harness, correct fit of a harness, and also what to do in the event of a fall.”

For the past four years, AGC Houston has conducted its Safety Stand-Down for two weeks to increase member participation. Companies of all sizes conduct “toolbox talks” (both in English and in Spanish) on a variety of topics such as hazard identification, safety equipment inspections, accident prevention and rescue plan initiatives.

“Exposing construction workers to safety demonstrations throughout our members’ area jobsites is an effective way to demonstrate common hazards of a jobsite, particularly as they relate to falls and common accidents,” stated AGC Houston Director of Safety Services, Kim Mason.

United Tool and Fastener, a member of AGC Houston, conducts safety demonstrations at Safety Stand-Down events on jobsites in the greater Houston and San Antonio areas. UTF Safety Specialist, Charlie Gertson, brings everything from a fall protection trailer with drop demonstrations to rigging, scaffolds and proper work-wear designed specifically for the construction industry. 

For more information about the safety demonstrations, events and products UTF offers, please contact Charlie Gertson at 713.823.9016 or Amy Sexton at 713.823.9016.