ARLINGTON, Va. — The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) announced that it will continue to provide fall protection safety training next year thanks to a federal safety grant the association is being awarded. The association said it will use the $120,000 Susan Harwood Training Grant it is receiving from the U.S. Department of Labor to offer the fall protection safety training designed to prevent potentially fatal falls among construction workers.

“Nothing is more important to our members than the safety of every construction worker,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “The expanded program will help give construction workers the training they need to remain safe on the jobsite.”

According to the latest safety statistics, fall-related fatalities remain the single largest cause of construction deaths while the overall number of construction fatalities has declined by nearly 50 percent over the past five years, Sandherr said. In 2010, fall-related fatalities accounted for 35 percent of the total, 260 out of the 751 construction fatalities, he noted.

The fall protection safety program will be offered in eight different locations next year, reaching as many as 500 construction workers, Sandherr said. The program will provide comprehensive information about fall protection for both commercial and residential construction.

In addition to the fall protection program, the association offers a variety of safety programs and materials for its member firms. The association offers educational materials and in-seat safety training programs across the country.

For more information, visit www.agc.org.

Publication date: 10/8/2012