The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a new initiative to conduct safety investigations on weekends in across the western United States to target one of the construction industry’s most dangerous hazards — falls from elevation.

Since 2017, OSHA has investigated 10 fatalities and numerous serious construction-related fall injuries in these areas. In 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that falls from elevation led to 351 of the 1,008 deaths among construction workers.

Through the fall of 2022, OSHA area offices in Colorado, Montana and South Dakota will undertake the “Weekend Work” initiative to open workplace safety and health inspections in facilities across the states.

“OSHA’s Weekend Work initiative will identify and address construction-related fall hazards on weekends, when many employers typically do not monitor their job sites well,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Jennifer Rous in Denver. “Our proactive approach will identify hazardous worksites, ensure that workers are protected from needless injuries or worse, and help ensure employers provide a safe and healthful workplace.”

For more information on construction safety initiatives, click here.