Rules + Regs

OSHA resources can help employers address workplace falls

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration continues to offer resources to address falls in the workplace—the leading cause of construction worker fatalities.

The resources are intended to help promote awareness about common fall hazards in construction; educate employers and workers regarding fall prevention; and reduce the number of fall-related injuries and fatalities. Continuing the goals of the Department of Labor’s Office of Compliance Initiatives, the resources also encourage and facilitate compliance evaluations.

Falls in the workplace can be prevented if employers plan ahead to ensure a job is done safely, provide the correct equipment and train workers to use equipment properly. OSHA is working with industry stakeholders to provide informative compliance assistance resources.

OSHA’s ninth annual National Safety Stand-Down will be May 2-6 to raise awareness about the hazards of falls in construction. OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Occupational Research Agenda and the Center for Construction Research and Training will lead the effort to encourage employers to pause during their workdays for topic discussions, demonstrations and training regarding how to recognize hazards and prevent falls.

Additional information is available at osha.gov/stop-falls-stand-down.

More fall-prevention resources are available on OSHA’s website, osha.gov, including a series of safety videos; OSHA’s Fall Prevention Training Guide for employers; fact sheets about the safe use of ladders and scaffolding while performing construction activities; and social media graphics.

OSHA adjusts penalties for inflation

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration increased civil penalty amounts for workplace safety and health standard violations in 2022 to adjust for inflation, according to osha.gov. The adjusted penalty amounts took effect Jan. 15.

New maximum penalties for willful or repeated violations are $145,027 per violation; serious and other-than-serious violations are $14,502 per violation; and failure to abate violations are $14,502 per day beyond the abatement date.

OSHA state-plan agencies must adopt maximum penalty amounts that are at least as effective as federal OSHA’s penalty amounts.

Additional information is available at osha.gov/penalties.