ABC is observing Construction Safety Week 2019 from May 6-10 with an awareness campaign highlighting member achievements in safety performance and our collective commitment to creating the conditions for all to do their work without incident and go home safe and healthy every day. 

Among the headline events of the week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will host its sixth annual National Safety Stand-down to Prevent Falls in Construction with events across the country to improve compliance and save lives. Although falls from heights decreased from 2016 to 2017 according to BLS data, falls are still the leading cause of death in the construction industry. 

OSHA encourages employers to take a break to focus on safety concerns surrounding falls from elevation. Stand-down events provide employers and employees the opportunity to discuss hazards, protective methods and the company’s safety and health programs, goals and expectations. Last year, thousands of worksites participated in the campaign and the stand-down event reached over a million workers. OSHA invites employers to dedicate themselves again to the safety of their most valuable resource: their workers.

ABC chapters and members can find local events to attend as well as guidance on hosting a stand-down and registering their event if it’s open to the public. Visit constructionsafetyweek.com for advice on engaging your team with an event guide, toolbox talks, messages to share and more ideas to promote safety as an industry priority. Look for daily Safety Week social media posts from ABC and Construction Executive, including highlights from the 2019 Safety Performance Report demonstrating the effectiveness of the STEP safety management system and articles featuring member safety performance leaders. Share your event plans by using the hashtags #ABCMeritShopProud and #SafetyWeek. Many chapters and members across the country are participating.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt attended a construction safety stand-down event on Monday at the site of the Texas Rangers Globe Life Field ballpark in Arlington, Texas. 


Pictured from left to right: John Reyhan, president of Manhattan Construction Company, the construction manager for the new stadium; Deputy Assistant Secretary Sweatt; 2019 ABC Chair Tony Rader and telecom vice president for National Roofing Partners; and Arlington, Texas, Mayor Jeff Williams.