Prevention of Construction Falls by Organizational Intervention Paul Becker ScD., CIH Safety and Health Extension, West Virginia University Morgantown, WV USA Mark Fullen, MS Safety and Health Extension, West Virginia University Morgantown, WV USA Magdy Akladios, PhD, CSP, PE Safety and Health Extension, West Virginia University Morgantown, WV USA Gerald Hobbs, PhD Department of Statistics, West Virginia University Morgantown, WV USA Falls are the leading cause of death in the U.S. construction industry. [1] While the construction workforce represents 5% of the nation’s workforce, it accounts for 49.6% of fall fatalities. [2] In West Virginia, the construction industry accounts for more than a third of all (fatal and nonfatal) occupational falls.[3] A study of 182 claims reported to the West Virginia Bureau of Workers’ Compensation reveals that the leading categories for type of work surfaces from which a fall occurred were ladders (33.5%), and scaffolds (13.7%). [3] This same study reports that the five leading reported causes of falls were slippery substance on surface (17%) slips or trip (13.9%) loss of balance (7.7%), unsafe equipment (6.6%), and a ladder slipping/skidding (7.7%). In this study, 70% of the claims for compensation from falls reported falling 10 feet or less. Techniques for preventing construction falls are well known. For example, simple techniques such as minimizing work at heights, proper maintenance, placement and tieing off of ladders, and appropriate climbing technique will go far to prevent many of the ladder falls identified in the study cited above.[3] However, the dynamic nature of the work at a construction jobsite and the transient nature of the workforce make control of simple hazards relatively difficult, [4] Non use and improper use of fall prevention equipment are important factors contributing to falls.[5] If the technical means to prevent many construction falls exists, an effective preventive intervention may be one that maximizes the use of the well known fall prevention technologies. Intervention Research Overview This intervention research project tested the hypothesis that a University based fall prevention program could change the organizational behaviors of contractor companies to improve their use of existing fall prevention practices and technologies. The design of the intervention research began with several assumptions: 1. The intervention needed to be relatively intense to yield a measurable outcome. [6] 2. Provision of incentives and marketing for the program were crucial for persuading contractors to adopt an intensive fall prevention program. 3. The establishment and maintenance of accountability systems are an important organizational method to insure consistent use of safety practices and technologies on construction sites. Fall-Safe Intervention Funded by the Center to Protect Workers’ Rights and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, West Virginia University’s Safety and Health Extension has devised a partnership program between the university and individual construction contractors as a vehicle to prevent construction falls in West Virginia. The thrust of the partnership is to create an organizational intervention that will provide construction contractors with knowledge, a fall hazard control management accountability system, and incentives to decrease fall hazards on their construction sites. Contractors and West Virginia University (WVU) sign a formal contract agreeing that the contractors will conduct fall prevention programs specified by WVU. WVU provides contractors with training, consultation, marketing and public relations concerning contractors’ efforts to prevent falls. The contractor must demonstrate that his/her company is carrying out the required fall prevention programs in order to obtain and maintain the public status of a «Fall-Safe Contractor.» WVU staff verifies compliance with Fall-Safe programs