COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. — Air Force Ground Safety is sponsoring Fall Protection Focus weeks 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 2010-2014, the Air Force had 7,671 injuries from falls resulting in 44,000 lost work days at a cost of more than $30 million; that includes three fatalities. 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.

Throughout the two-week focus, Air Force ground safety professionals will remind all active duty, guard, reserve, civilians and family members of the dangers of preventable falls.

“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, the Air Force Ground Safety chief. “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.”