FACTS
- Falls from Elevated Platforms: Working on order pickers or elevated platforms without proper fall protection can result in severe or fatal falls to hard surfaces.
- Improper Access to Racking: Climbing pallet racks instead of using approved equipment exposes workers to unstable footing and sudden loss of balance.
- Lack of Fall Protection: Failure to use harnesses and tie-off systems increases the likelihood of uncontrolled falls from height.
- Overreaching from Equipment: Leaning outside guardrails to reach loads can shift the worker’s center of gravity and lead to falls.
- Unsecured or Unstable Loads: Poorly stacked or damaged pallets can fall from height, striking workers below.
- Equipment Misuse or Failure: Incorrect operation or mechanical issues with order pickers and forklifts can lead to tip-overs or sudden drops.
- Uncontrolled Work Zones Below: Lack of exclusion zones exposes workers on the ground to struck-by hazards from falling objects.
STATS
- In the United States, falls from heights accounted for over 800 workplace fatalities in 2022, making it one of the leading causes of death across industries, including warehousing (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- U.S. data shows that transportation and material moving occupations, including warehouse workers, report thousands of fall-related injuries annually, many involving elevated work platforms (BLS, 2021–2023).
- In Canada, falls from elevation are a leading cause of workplace fatalities and serious injuries, particularly in industries involving storage, material handling, and warehousing (Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, recent years).
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that contact with objects and equipment, including falling materials from height, is a major source of injury in warehouse operations (2022–2023).
- In Canada, warehouse and transportation workers experience injury rates above the national average, with falls and struck-by incidents among the most common causes (AWCBC, 2021–2023).