Falls continue to be the leading cause of death in the construction industry. As we head into another active building season, it’s evident that while our equipment—scaffolds, lifts and harnesses—may change and improve, the need for constant vigilance and responsibility when it comes to fall protection remains as critical as ever.
Three recent national initiatives underscore this ongoing challenge and offer an opportunity for reflection and renewed action among AWCI members nationwide.
In early May, AWCI members joined thousands of construction professionals nationwide in recognizing OSHA’s 12th Annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, held May 5–9, 2025. This week-long initiative renewed attention on one of the industry’s most serious and persistent risks: falls from height.
Throughout the week, participating companies paused work to lead toolbox talks, inspect fall protection gear, review safety protocols, and, above all, reinforce their commitment to sending every worker home safely at the end of the day.
The Stand-Down coincided with Construction Safety Week 2025, further amplifying awareness around fall prevention, mental health, and overall workforce well-being. OSHA, the National Safety Council (NSC) and other industry partners reported record participation—clear evidence that more organizations are moving beyond basic compliance and embracing a true culture of safety.
At AWCI, we’re doing the same. Our Safety and Health Committee is reviewing member feedback from the Stand-Down and incorporating takeaways into future peer reviews and training programs. While the Stand-Down lasts one week, the conversation around fall prevention must continue every day of the year.
The NSC’s message was clear: nearly half of all fatal workplace falls continue to occur in construction, many of them preventable with proper planning, equipment, and oversight. This aligns with a principle we’ve been reinforcing through AWCI: regulations alone won’t change behavior. It takes consistent leadership on the ground and in the boardroom to foster environments where safety is expected, enforced, and ingrained in company culture.
Safety Week reminds us that safety is just as much about communication as it is about compliance. It’s about empowering crews to speak up when they identify a hazard and ensuring that systems are in place to address concerns promptly. As emphasized in our Peer Safety Reviews, safety isn’t a one-person job; it’s a shared responsibility grounded in trust and accountability.
What This Means for AWCI Members
Peer Safety Reviews: Our recent jobsite visits have given us valuable insight into what’s working and what’s not when it comes to fall protection. These lessons will shape future training and educational efforts.
Collaboration with Equipment Manufacturers: Whether we’re evaluating panel carriers on scissor lifts or anchorage points on scaffolding, AWCI continues to engage manufacturers to drive product improvements and provide clearer usage guidance.
Safety and Health Committee Initiatives: We remain committed to helping members access the latest tools, data, and best practices. Our goal is not just compliance, but meaningful, measurable improvement in fall prevention across the industry.
Takeaways
Falls aren’t just statistics, they’re stories. Behind every fatal fall is a worker, a family, and a team left asking what could have been done differently. If falls continue to lead our industry’s fatality rates, we all have work to do.
Let’s use the momentum from OSHA’s Stand-Down, NSC’s advocacy, and Construction Safety Week to raise the bar. Let’s challenge ourselves not just to meet minimum safety standards, but to exceed them. Because when it comes to falls, the only acceptable number is zero.
If you participated in this year’s Stand-Down or have a fall-prevention success story to share, I want to hear from you. Let’s keep this conversation active on jobsites, in committee meetings, and across every level of our industry.
To learn more or get involved in the AWCI Safety and Health Committee, feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected].
