USACE Europe District takes fall safety seriously across the continent

By Christopher GardnerMay 8, 2025

USACE Europe District takes fall safety seriously across the continent
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District Safety Specialist Darrell Brooks checks out ongoing roof repair activities at Vicenza Elementary School where the site features guard rails to reduce fall risks on U.S. Army Garrison Italy in Vicenza April 30, 2025. Europe District is committed to safety on its construction sites and is recognizing the National Safety Stand-Down focused on preventing falls in construction throughout the week of May 5, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Brad Lein) (Photo Credit: Brad Lein) VIEW ORIGINAL

WIESBADEN, Germany – Falls continue to be the leading cause of death in the construction industry across both the United States and Europe. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2023 falls from elevation represented nearly 40 percent of construction deaths in the United States and are a leading cause of construction deaths across Europe as well.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is committed to safety on its construction sites, which is why Europe District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts across the globe recognize the National Safety Stand-Down focused on fall safety each year in May. In Europe, that includes training sessions, informational displays and a wide range of outreach.

USACE Europe District takes fall safety seriously across the continent
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District personnel representing the District’s Engineering Division, Construction Division, Programs and Project Management Division, Contracting Division, Safety & Occupational Health Office and Special Projects Branch pose with informational displays in the lobby of Europe District’s headquarters in the Amelia Earhart Center in Wiesbaden during the National Safety Stand-Down focused on fall safety Wednesday May 7, 2025. The displays are a small part of a larger effort across Europe District’s area of responsibility to educate personnel on the dangers of working at height and ways to reduce risks to themselves and crews on project sites. (U.S. Army photo by Alfredo Barraza) (Photo Credit: Alfredo Barraza) VIEW ORIGINAL

“Education and awareness are key in ensuring our contractor partners utilize the most effective forms of fall protection to maintain a safe and successful project,” said Europe District Safety & Occupational Health Chief Brad Lein.

National Fall Safety Stand-Down activities are just part of Europe District’s commitment to safety on construction sites throughout the year.

In Italy, Europe District’s commitment to fall prevention is on display at an active site where contractors are ahead of schedule repairing the roof at Vicenza Elementary School on the Caserma Ederle portion of U.S. Army Garrison Italy. This site provides an example of the latest best practices when delivering projects that involve working at significant heights. That includes passive fall-protection systems like newly designed guardrails around the construction site on the roof that provide workers with more effective fall protection while allowing them better freedom of movement.

USACE Europe District takes fall safety seriously across the continent
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District Safety Specialist Darrell Brooks inspects a recently installed anchor incorporated into an ongoing roof repair project on U.S. Army Garrison Italy in Vicenza April 30, 2025. In addition to ensuring safety during construction, features like the new anchors enable future crews inspecting or maintaining the roof to secure horizontal lifelines reducing their risks as well. (U.S. Army photo by Brad Lein) (Photo Credit: Brad Lein) VIEW ORIGINAL
USACE Europe District takes fall safety seriously across the continent
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Newly designed guardrails incorporated into ongoing school roof repair work are visible on U.S. Army Garrison Italy in Vicenza April 4, 2025. This passive fall-protection system provides workers with more effective fall protection while allowing them better freedom of movement. (U.S. Army photo by Valeria Baliva) (Photo Credit: Valeria Baliva) VIEW ORIGINAL

“Fall protection measures reflect a strong commitment to site safety,” said Europe District Project Engineer Valeria Baliva. “By prioritizing fall protection, we’re not just meeting compliance standards—we’re upholding a safety-first culture and ensuring mission-critical operations continue without disruption.”

USACE Europe District takes fall safety seriously across the continent
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District Safety Specialist Darrell Brooks inspects a recently installed anchor incorporated into an ongoing roof repair project on U.S. Army Garrison Italy in Vicenza April 30, 2025. In addition to ensuring safety during construction, features like the new anchors enable future crews inspecting or maintaining the roof to secure horizontal lifelines reducing their risks as well. (U.S. Army photo by Brad Lein) (Photo Credit: Brad Lein) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fall safety isn’t just for initial construction though. Europe District personnel make sure projects like the roof repair in Vicenza include long-term safety features to ensure the safety of our customers after the project is complete. This includes built-in anchors so future maintenance workers can hook up horizonal lifelines.

Europe District construction personnel at construction field offices across the continent took a moment to discuss the importance of safety when working at heights and preventing falls in conjunction with the National Safety Stand-Down.

USACE Europe District takes fall safety seriously across the continent
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bavaria Area Engineer Edwin Vasquez checks out a destroyed apple used to display the effects of falling from heights while making a fall safety video in Hohenfels, Germany April 30, 2025. The informational video was produced ahead of Europe District’s recognition of the National Safety Stand-Down focused on preventing falls in construction throughout the week of May 5, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Alfredo Barraza) (Photo Credit: Alfredo Barraza) VIEW ORIGINAL

In Bavaria, Europe District’s Bavaria Area Engineer Edwin Vasquez even highlighted the dangers of falling from height by demonstrating gravity’s impacts on an apple dropped from an elevated lift bucket for an informational safety video.

“Fact, gravity accelerates an object like this apple – or your body – at 9.81 meters per second squared,” Vasquez said before demonstrating the destructive impacts of a fall on a soon-to-be-destroyed apple. “Inspect your gear, wear your harness and follow safety procedures so that you don’t become a statistic. Remember, don’t be this apple.”