NIOSH to host free webinars on preventing struck-by incidents during national stand-down

Washington — The third annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents – set for April 11-15 – will feature four free webinars, including one in Spanish.

The event, scheduled in conjunction with National Work Zone Awareness Week, is aimed at raising awareness of struck-by hazards and ways to prevent them. According to OSHA, the four most common struck-by hazards involve flying, falling, swinging or rolling objects. The webinars, hosted by NIOSH’s National Occupational Research Agenda Construction Sector Council, are (all times Eastern):

• Preventing Struck-by Incidents in Roadway Work Zones, 1 p.m. (English) and 3 p.m. (Spanish) on April 11
• What’s the Risk? Best Practices to Reduce the Likelihood of Struck-By Injuries From Heavy Equipment and Crane Activities, 2 p.m. on April 13
• Preventing Struck-by Incidents from Dropped Tools & Other Objects, 2 p.m. on April 14

NIOSH encourages employers to pause work during the stand-down to present a safety talk, conduct equipment inspections and/or discuss common struck-by hazards in construction. Discussions on training, hazards, protective methods, and company safety policies and goals also are encouraged.

Downloadable resources related to work zone, lift zone and heavy equipment safety are available online from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. They include two webinars from the last year’s event, along with links to more than 25 toolbox talks, infographics, data bulletins and blog posts.

NIOSH is partnering with OSHA, CPWR, and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association on the stand-down.