How Serious Can Fall Injuries Be?

Common sense tells us that even a simple slip and fall can lead to injury. But how serious can these injuries be, and how does a fall to a lower level increase the risk of serious injury, or even death?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,486 fatal work injuries in the United States in 2022. Out of this, 865 fatalities were related to falls, slips, and trips. Construction workers are seven times more prone to these fatalities than other industries. Fall from height injuries in 2021-2022 resulted in 450,540 days away from work and 70 billion dollars annually toward medical bills and workers’ compensation. 

Fall Injuries in the Workplace

Fall injuries are 100% preventable. There are three main kinds of falls — falls that occur on a single level, falling to a lower level, and swing falls — all of which can result in severe injury or death.

Falls on a Single Level

The National Safety Council estimates that 144 workers died in 2022 due to falls on a single-level footway, with 414,000 days of job transfer or restricted work activity and 275,660 days away from work reported. Injuries from even simple falls can vary widely, from mere bruises to sprains, muscle pulls, ligament tears, fractures, spinal injuries, and concussions. Health care workers encountering slippery surfaces often suffer from this type of fall, but slip-and-fall injuries can occur anywhere there is a slippery, obstructed, or uneven footway. Proper footwear and passive fall protection, such as handrails, can do much to prevent these injuries.

Falls to a Lower Level

Falls to lower levels are frequently covered by the media, but typically go unnoticed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 80% of all fatal falls in 2022 were due to falls to a lower level. This past summer in Boston, a construction worker died after falling from scaffolding at the Boston Theatre. In a tragic event, a worker at a Tennessee-based construction company died after falling 23 feet to a lower level. OSHA investigation showed that the contractor failed to provide workers with safety equipment and would be fined upwards of $80,000. 

Each of these cases illustrates how serious a fall to a lower level can be and underscores the need for properly constructed, maintained, and inspected fall protection equipment. Incorporating full-body harnesses featuring multiple D-rings, comfort padding, and fall indicators can help keep workers safer when working at heights and maintain OSHA compliance.

Swing Falls

A swing fall occurs when a worker is attached by rope, cable, or lanyard to an anchorage point that is not directly overhead. In the event of a fall, the worker not only descends the full length of the rope or cable but also swings like a pendulum and may strike other objects or equipment in their path. Workers atop aircraft (cleaning or deicing), workers atop silos, or those on billboard catwalks are just a few cases where a swing fall can occur. To prevent swing fall accidents, you need an overhead anchor point and self-retracting lanyard system that limits free fall distance to 6 feet or less. 

Fall Prevention Strategies and Equipment

Fall protection equipment, such as guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems, helps mitigate fall risks in the workplace. Fall protection track systems prevent workers from falling as far as they would with cable fall protection. They stop the fall, prevent impact, and reduce the stress on the worker’s body. Selecting equipment tailored to specific job tasks and environments is vital to maximize safety. For example, mobile fall arrest overhead systems are ideal for temporary jobsites or where fall hazards are not localized to one place.

Regular safety audits and thorough equipment inspections are necessary to ensure that all safety measures are up to date and functioning correctly. By implementing these strategies, workplaces can significantly reduce fall injuries and create a safer working environment for all employees. 

Create a Safer Workspace With Rigid Lifelines

Falls in the workplace can be fatal or lead to life-long impairment, lost wages, increased insurance costs, OSHA fines, and decreased productivity. Consult your equipment manufacturer to help you select the proper fall protection equipment to address each potential fall hazard in your workplace. Don’t become a statistic or unnoticed news story.

By integrating systems from Rigid Lifelines, workplaces can address diverse fall protection needs and create a safer environment that aligns with industry-specific requirements and OSHA standards. Contact us today to discuss how you can protect your business and workers.