Wm. T. Spaeder Participates in the National Safety Stand-Down

After adding more than 50,000 jobs in January alone, the construction industry shows no signs of slowing down. As more people join the workforce, our commitment to worker safety is even more important. Although falls from heights decreased from 2016 to 2017 according to BLS data, falls are still the leading cause of death in the construction industry – they can and should be prevented.

“Addressing falls in construction is the reason why each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) holds a National Safety Stand-Down to prevent Falls in the Construction industry. OSHA encourages employers to take a break to focus on safety concerns surrounding falls from elevation.  Stand-down events provide employers and workers the opportunity to talk about hazards, protective methods, and the company’s safety and health programs, goals, and expectations.” —OSHA

At WM. T. Spaeder we strive to provide, not only the best service and craftsmanship in the business, but to do it safely. It is our policy that safety will always take precedence over more expedient operations and that every attempt will be made to create a hazard free workplace. This includes ensuring our employees have the knowledge and equipment to do their jobs safely. We want our employees exposed to the latest technology and most practical trainings so they will be able to utilize all options to ensure a safe workplace.

On May 8, WMT Spaeder hosted Werner Ladder’s Brian Neely who conducted a ladder and fall protection training for 71 of our employees. Brian covered inspection, selection and usage for both key tools and even discussed common challenges the mechanical industry faces daily. He had a practical demonstration of fall arrest where we suspended two of our employees, Eric Farrell & Anthony Forney, in a harness as if they had been subjected to a fall. The feedback from the training was all very positive and, since training, we have had great questions brought up proactively in regard to fall protection and ladder use.

We hope to continue to host key stand-downs, not only supporting OSHA, but really allowing the employees an opportunity to engage and ask questions to an industry expert on safety topics that affect them daily.