Fall Protection Stats and Facts

FACTS

There are many specific unsafe acts by employees as well as unsafe conditions that lead to fall incidents. They are often the result of multiple unsafe conditions and unsafe actions combined.

1. Unsafe Conditions that Lead to Falls

• Unguarded leading edges
• Open holes
• Improper guardrails
• Damaged equipment (ladders, stairs, etc.)
• Slippery conditions
• Unmarked elevation changes

2. Unsafe Actions that Lead to Falls

• Working at heights without fall protection in place
  
• Improper use of ladders
• Leaning over guardrails

3. Despite prevention efforts, workers continue to fall because

• working conditions such as poor lighting, slippery walking surfaces, and poor housekeeping practices exist.
• protective devices like guardrails are missing.
• equipment such as ladders and scaffolds are in poor condition or not used properly.
• fall-protection equipment is not available, not used, or is misused.
• work practices are poor due to unclear job procedures, lack of training for workers and workers rushing and taking short-cuts to meet deadlines.

STATS

• A total of 5,190 workers were killed on the job in 2016; 849 of them died from falls. Of those, approximately 170 died from a fall off of a ladder.
• In 2016 there were 229,240 nonfatal cases involving falls, slips, trips; the lowest since 2014.

• Services, wholesale, and retail trade industries account for 60 percent of slip and fall accidents.
• At 25 percent, slip and fall injuries are the most frequently reported work accidents.
• Falls are the primary cause of lost time at work.
• 22 percent of falls result in more than 31 days of missed work.