Air Force Safety Center sponsors Fall Protection Focus weeks Published May 1, 2015 By Ralph Crump 377th Air Base Wing ground safety manager KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- In an attempt to bring more awareness to the potential dangers of preventable falls, Air Force Ground Safety will sponsor Fall Protection Focus weeks from May 4-15. This initiative is a partnership with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's campaign, "National Safety Stand-Down." During fiscal years 2010-14, the Air Force had three fatalities and 7,671 injuries from falls resulting in 44,000 lost work days at a cost of more than $30 million. According to OSHA, over the last 10 years, more than 3,500 workers have died from falls, which remains the leading cause of death in construction, accounting for more than a third of deaths in the industry. "Fall protection or prevention is not only for activities related to heights that are encountered every day on-the-job, but also includes, for example, falls that can happen because of wet floors or obstacles on a walkway," said Bill Parsons, Air Force chief of ground safety. "We want everyone to remember that preventable falls are inexcusable and that we must continue to do all we can to protect ourselves and each other." For more information on protecting yourself or your workers from falls, contact the 377 ABW Ground Safety Office at 846-4227.