Three Types of Workplace Falls

This blog was originally posted on 10/31/11 and reviewed on 3/9/21.

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When looking to identify and address fall hazards in any working environment, it is important to understand the different types of falls that a worker may face while performing their daily tasks.

Falls can be categorized into three types: falls on a single level, falls to a lower level, and swing falls. In this week’s post we’ll examine these three types of falls and how understanding your workplace fall hazards can help you select the proper fall protection system.

Falls on a Single Level

Falls that occur while a worker remains on a single working level are classified as “slips and falls” or sometimes “slips and trips.” Trips result from footways that are uneven, have curved surfaces, or are encroached by fixtures or equipment. Slips can also be a result of the materials coating the footway, such as ice or grease. Worn footwear, or footwear tread that is not matched to the footway can also result in a slip.

In some work environments, the fall protection solution for slips and falls may be a simple safety management control, such as maintaining clear footways or specifying footwear tread. But in applications where safety management controls are not enough, fall hazards can be addressed using passive fall protection systems such as a handrails or catwalks.

Falls to a Lower Level

Most workplace fatalities and serious fall-related injuries result from falls from an elevated level to a lower level. Examples of falls to a lower level include workers falling from mezzanines or from the top of vehicles. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations require employers to provide fall protection for workers in any General Industry setting where a worker may fall 4 feet or more to a lower level.

OSHA also requires that active fall protection systems stop a fall to zero acceleration within a distance of 3.5 feet (see OSHA 1915.159). An active fall protection system, such as a full-body harness secured to an overhead anchorage point by means of a self-retracting lanyard (SRL), is likely the best choice for areas where workers risk significant injury or death due to falls from a height.

Swing Falls

Swing falls can also be categorized as a fall to a lower level, but these types of falls are unique. Swing falls occur when a worker falls from an elevated platform while attached to a fall arrest system and the location of a system’s attachment point is not directly over the worker’s head. Because the attachment point is not directly overhead, the lanyard the worker is using creates an angle. During a free fall, this angle of the lanyard causes the worker to swing back towards the attachment point.

This swinging motion may not be a problem if the worker is falling into open space, but workers are almost always working on top of an object and, contact with the object during the swing is inevitable. Swing falls are commonly encountered in industrial settings such as aircraft manufacturing or maintenance. They can result in fatality, serious injury, or significant damage to equipment. Swing falls can be prevented by ensuring that workers always tie off to an attachment point and that the attachment point always remains overhead.

Identifying the fall risks in a work environment is essential in choosing the most appropriate fall protection system. Once identified, managers and employers can design and purchase a system tailored to the specific needs of their facility.

Thanks for reading!

Michael Evanko
Marketing Manager