OREANDA-NEWS. 3M’s Capital Safety will host fall protection demonstrations throughout the U.S. May 2-6, 2016, during OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down. Capital Safety has historically been involved in OSHA’s Stand Down and is proud to participate in this campaign to remind and educate employers and workers in the construction industry about the serious dangers of falls and dropped objects. 3M acquired Capital Safety in August 2015, adding Capital Safety’s premier fall protection solutions to 3M’s Personal Safety Division.

The third annual Stand-Down follows a year when construction worker deaths from falls has increased. The percentage of construction industry deaths from falls has continued to trend upward from 34.6 percent (279 out of 806 total deaths) in 2012 to 39.9 percent (349 out of 874 total deaths) in 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Dodge Data & Analytics’ 2016 Construction Outlook, a mainstay in construction industry forecasting and business planning, reports that jobsite accidents and criminal indictments overall are on the rise.

In response, OSHA has heightened its focus on industry wrongdoing and fall protection specialists are increasing their efforts to help provide the resources and training needed to change the trends. 3M is hoping to help OSHA reach more than 2.5 million employers and workers across the country during this year’s event.

“OSHA's annual National Safety Stand-Down is our biggest customer-facing event of the year,” said Nate Damro, US Sales Manager, Fall Protection, 3M Personal Safety Division. “Every year we rally our team of experts and fall protection specialists to support this campaign with scheduled fall protection and dropped object demonstrations across the country. In five days we work to educate and remind as many workers as we can of the importance of fall protection and the risks of non-compliance with fall protection safety regulations. Together we’re working to make sure all at-height workers have the tools and resources they need to be protected on the job.”

During the campaign, employers and workers will be asked to take a break from their work day to discuss fall protection, and attend demonstrations and trainings on how to use safety harnesses, guard rails, fall protection for tools, personal protective equipment, and more.

Capital Safety has deployed more than 30 fully-customized fall demonstration vehicles to work sites across the country to offer construction workers and safety managers access to training equipment and fall prevention presentations. Training specialists will be traveling to hundreds of locations in nearly all 50 states to host on-site training focusing on enhancing awareness, education and compliance of fall protection safety regulations.

3M’s “Safety Roadshow,” a 48-foot mobile training center capable of hosting 75-200 people, will be offering prescheduled, in-person personal safety and education demonstrations, including a stop at the 2016 Minnesota Safety & Health Conference, May 3-5, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.