NIOSH, Partners Lead Fifth Annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents

NIOSH, Partners Lead Fifth Annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents

The virtual event kicks off National Work Zone Awareness Week, which runs from April 15-19, 2024.

  • By Robert Yaniz Jr.
  • Apr 15, 2024

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is among the organizations leading the fifth annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents, which begins with a live event on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. CT. The event is timed to the beginning of National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 15-19).

According to a release dated April 10, the initiative aims to curb the high rate of struck-by incidents in construction work zones. In 2020, struck-by incidents led to 168 fatalities and 14,000 nonfatal injuries among construction workers, the second leading cause of workplace deaths and the primary cause of nonfatal injuries in the sector.

The National Stand-Down is part of a broader effort by NIOSH and partners like the NORA Construction Sector Council and the Center for Construction Research and Training to improve workplace safety in the construction industry through research, guidance, and practical solutions.

"Stand-downs provide the opportunity to inform workers and management about these hazards and provide training on how to prevent these injuries," Scott Earnest, director of the NIOSH Office of Construction Health and Safety, said in a statement.

Monday’s event will stream live on the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) YouTube channel. In addition to ARTBA, other organizations involved in the event include Alabama Road Builders, Alabama Associated General Contractors, and the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The National Stand-Down continues on Thursday, April 18, with a webinar titled “Developing and Enforcing Internal Traffic Control Plans.” The session will address strategies for managing the movement of vehicles, equipment and personnel on construction sites to prevent accidents. Registration for that event is now open.

More details about the National Stand-Down are available on the NIOSH National Construction Center’s website, as is information on struck-by hazards and prevention.

About the Author

Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.

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