PARK RIDGE, IL — Working at height can be a hazardous job, one that exposes workers to significant risks that range from structure collapses to slipping through floor openings to being struck by falling objects. A new survey from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, supported by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), aims to gather key insights from safety and health professionals this spring that can help advance fall protection in all industries worldwide.

Results from the online Fall Experience Survey, which explores the root causes of falls from height, will assist the ANSI/ASSP Z359 Fall Protection and Fall Restraint Committee in enhancing voluntary national fall protection and fall restraint consensus standards that guide occupational safety at construction sites and across all industries.

“While data is available on the types and rates of fatal and non-fatal falls, we don’t have enough information on the causes of those falls,” said Thomas Kramer, P.E., CSP, chair of the Z359 committee. “We need to learn more about trends, case studies and interventions so we can strengthen fall protection and fall restraint standards and ultimately help prevent injuries and save lives.”

ASSP is secretariat of the Z359 committee that develops voluntary national consensus standards to address fall protection equipment and systems for climbing, work positioning, fall arrest, rescue, evacuation and other fall hazards. The standards also focus on worker training and steps organizations can take to identify and abate hazards to help their employees avoid injuries and fatalities when working at height. The standards are a key component of an employer’s comprehensive fall protection program.

In the 15-minute survey now available, safety professionals are asked for details about a fall incident they have experienced, witnessed or investigated. Responses are collected anonymously.

“Falls are consistently the leading cause of construction fatalities,” said Jessica Bunting, MPH, assistant director of CPWR’s research to practice. “It’s important to remember that all falls are preventable, and that is driving us to gather better information that can foster new and effective operational solutions on the job site.”

Safety professionals are encouraged to participate in the Fall Experience Survey by April 30. A recent CPWR webinar provides more information about the survey and identifying root causes of falls from height.

Please direct questions about the online survey to CPWR’s Jessica Bunting at jbunting@cpwr.com.

About ASSP – Working together for a safer, stronger future
For more than 100 years, the American Society of Safety Professionals has been at the forefront of helping occupational safety and health professionals protect people and property. The nonprofit society is based in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge. Its global membership of nearly 40,000 professionals covers all industries, developing safety and health management plans that prevent injuries, illnesses and deaths. ASSP advances its members and the safety profession through education, advocacy, standards and a professional community. Its flagship publication, Professional Safety, is a longtime leader in the field. Visit www.assp.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About CPWR
CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution created by North America’s Building Trades Unions with the mission to improve safety and health in the U.S. construction industry. Recognized as a world leader in occupational safety and health research, CPWR works with a network of academics from over 30 universities across the United States and Canada to respond to existing and emerging hazards facing the construction industry. The organization partners with representatives from management, labor, and government on its research, training, and service initiatives. CPWR is uniquely positioned to serve U.S. construction workers, contractors, and the scientific community, having partnered with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on construction safety and health research initiatives since its inception in 1990. Visit www.cpwr.com.