Fall Prevention and Risk Management – It’s Your Job! Published May 4, 2026 By Lisa Gonzales Air Force Safety Center KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Department of the Air Force will partner alongside Occupational Safety and Health Administration in their National Safety Stand-Down campaign, May 4-8, 2026, to prevent falls. The DAF's partnership with OSHA during the National Safety Stand-Down enhances our long-standing fall prevention efforts, offering Airmen, Guardians, and civilians critical strategies to mitigate fall risks in all environments. This year the DAF has chosen to highlight the National Safety Stand-Down as a separate challenge to our members to fight falls in the “Fall Prevention is Your Job” campaign. Slips, trips and fall and falls from heights injuries and fatalities occur throughout the DAF, and we count on every DAF member to help eliminate or mitigate them in their workplaces. “True fall prevention starts with you and is not just about compliance with a process,” said Keith Lear, chief of Occupational Safety, Air Force Safety Center. “By committing yourselves to fall prevention safety standards, you can protect the driving force of the organization: each other.” Airmen, Guardians and civilians are the first line of defense in preventing falls. By taking time to discuss fall prevention, identify hazards, inspect protective gear, and evaluate each program to ensure risk management concepts are in place, we can all create a safer workplace free of slips, trips and falls. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 450,540 nonfatal injuries were reported in 2022. They also report that slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of workplace injuries and fatalities. Additionally, the National Safety Council cited 47,026 deaths from falls at home and work in 2023. Additionally, from 2020 to 2025, the DAF suffered one on- and three off-duty fatalities. In 2025, there was also an increase of over 22% in slips, trips and fall injuries, which is an average of over 750 injuries each year from 2020 to 2025. These injuries and deaths are avoidable. Staying aware and following simple fall prevention and risk management procedures can assist in bringing that number down. Do housekeeping in your work areas to keep pathways, stairwells and offices clear of clutter and tripping hazards. When working from heights, it is imperative that you wear the proper fitting fall prevention gear. Maintainers working on airplane wings or areas higher than four feet should use a combination of specialized equipment such as elevated platforms, guardrails or personal fall arrest systems to prevent falls. If you use a ladder, remember to use three points of contact. Follow all safety procedures and get trained. Another area of concern is when the weather changes quickly. Be prepared for inclement weather, including rain. Make sure to clear walkways, stairs and clean your shoes when entering the building to avoid wet floors. Cordon off the area if unable to clean up the water. Since its inception in 2012, multiple safety organizations to include the DAF highlight fall prevention safety strategies during the National Safety Stand-Down. Every year the Air Force Safety Center’s traffic and outreach branch prepares safety materials during the Stand-Down campaign to help educate members on identifying and mitigating fall hazards. “Stay vigilant, not only during the National Safety Stand-down,” said Lear. “When utilized, these simple but effective skills can prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace and help you and your teammates go home safely.” For more information and materials: https://www.safety.af.mil/Divisions/Occupational-Safety-Division/Fall-Prevention-Focus/