Innovative participated in National Safety Stand Down on May 3 for the second consecutive year. This OSHA-sanctioned event is meant to bring awareness to the dangers of falls from elevations, which remains the leading cause of death in the construction industry. In 2015, a staggering 364 construction personnel lost their lives as a result of a fall, which accounts for 39% of the industry’s work-related deaths. This doesn’t just include falls from roofs and scaffolding — falls from short-elevation ladders and equipment can be just as fatal. Fall protection remains the most frequently cited OSHA violation in construction.

Employers and employees must both take fall protection very seriously. It is a team effort to provide, use, and maintain fall protection safely and correctly.

Innovative’s participation in the OSHA Stand Down included an additional Toolbox Talk, a review of the company’s Fall Protection Plan, and an inspection of all ladders & fall arrest equipment on each job, as well as in our manufacturing facility. The Toolbox Talk detailed information regarding differences between travel restraint, fall arrest, and guardrail systems, along with proper inspection protocol for all equipment. The employees were then shown how to correctly inspect a full body harness, a lanyard, a retractable lanyard, and a ladder. The proper way to wear a full body harness was also covered. After the demonstration, every employee grabbed at least one harness, lanyard, retractable lanyard, or ladder and performed their own inspections.

Participating in events like Stand Down and working towards SHARP Certification is an extension of our continued partnership with OSHA. Innovative is committed to the safety of our employees and wants to ensure that Safety is always our top value!