Labor Dept. Announces Program to Reduce Workplace Falls, OSHA Coordinates Initiative
Data shows that of the 5,190 fatal workplace injuries in 2021, 680 were associated with falls from elevations, about 13% of all deaths.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced on May 1, 2023, that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun a National Emphasis Program to prevent falls, the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries and the most-cited violation the agency confronts within the construction industry.
The emphasis program will focus on reducing fall-related injuries and fatalities for people working at heights in all industries, the department said in a news release. The targeted enforcement program is based on historical Bureau of Labor Statistics data and OSHA enforcement history.