OSHA Announces National Emphasis Program on Preventing Workplace Falls

OSHA announced a new national emphasis program centered on preventing falls at the workplace.  Falls are the leading cause of workplace injuries, and the most common violation OSHA cites when conducting inspections in the construction industry.  Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2021, there were 5,190 fatal workplace injuries, in which 680 had to deal with falls.  The program ushers in a set of new guidance for locating and inspecting fall hazards.  Outreach will also be made to employers to educate them, so they can in turn educate their employees on best practices to avoid falls.  The program also allows OSHA compliance safety and health officers to open inspections when they see someone working at heights.