Hi, this is Labor Secretary Tom Perez, and I want to talk to you today about a serious safety issue in construction.

Year after year, falls are the leading cause of death for workers in this industry. Almost 300 construction workers were killed in falls in 2012. Thousands more were seriously injured.

But we have been working with NIOSH on an effort to prevent these deaths and disabling injuries with three simple steps:

1). Plan ahead to get the job done safely;

2). Provide the right equipment;

And 3). Train workers to use the gear safely.

Now is the time to focus on this vital safety issue. The economy is on the rebound, housing starts are on the rise, and the summer construction season is getting underway. So, as part of our Fall Prevention campaign, OSHA is launching a national safety "stand down" to raise awareness about preventing fatal falls.

This week-long event, from June 2nd through the 6th, will give employers across the country the opportunity to talk to their workers about construction fall hazards and the importance of fall prevention.

Here's how you can join our campaign, it's very easy: Set aside a few minutes to stop work…gather up the team…and stand down to discuss fall prevention.

After your stand down, come to our website to tell us about it and you'll receive an official certificate of participation.

To find out how you can partner with us for this national stand down, visit osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/

Thank you for your partnership on this issue of life and death in the construction industry.