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Falls from Elevation

Construction Workers connecting steel beams

Falls from elevation hazards are present at most every jobsite, and many workers are exposed to these hazards daily. Any walking/working surface could be a potential fall hazard.

An unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet or more above a lower level should be protected from falling by the use of a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system. These hazardous exposures exist in many forms, and can be as seemingly innocuous as changing a light bulb from a step ladder to something as high-risk as connecting bolts on high steel at 200 feet in the air.

Based on data from the NIOSH National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities (NTOF) Surveillance System, falls from elevations were the fourth leading cause of workplace death from 1980 through 1994. The 8,102 deaths due to falls from elevations accounted for 10% of all occupational fatalities during this period and an average of 540 deaths per year. (From Worker Deaths by Falls: A Summary of Surveillance Findings and Investigative Case Reports, NIOSH (DHHS) Publication No. 2000-116 (November 2000))--logo designates a pdf document


NIOSH Publications on Falls:

NIOSH Update: Strategic Precautions Against Fatal Falls on the Job are Recommended by NIOSH

Once the third leading cause of work-related death across all industries, falls have surpassed workplace homicide to become the second leading cause after motor vehicle crashes. Last year alone, some 717 workers died of injuries caused by falls from ladders, scaffolds, buildings, or other elevations. That equaled almost two deaths per day on average.

In the construction industry, falls lead all other causes of occupational death, but the risk is present in virtually every kind of workplace. It may occur in many forms, from standing on a
ladder to change a light bulb, to connecting bolts on steel girders hundreds of feet above the ground.

Worker Deaths by Falls: A Summary of Surveillance Findings and Investigative Case Reports, NIOSH (DHHS) Publication No. 2000-116 (November 2000)--logo designates a pdf document

This monograph summarizes surveillance data and investigative reports of fatal work-related falls from elevations. It reviews what is known about occupational fatalities due to falls from elevations, identifies common risk factors and exposures, and recommends general approaches to preventing these fatal events.

Worker Health Chartbook, 2000, NIOSH (DHHS) Publication No. 2000-127 (September 2000)

Surveillance is the cornerstone of prevention: It helps us identify new and emerging problems, track and monitor issues over time, target and evaluate the effectiveness of intervention efforts, and anticipate future needs and concerns. One of the primary goals in compiling the chartbook was to create a resource that could be used by anyone interested in workplace safety and health, including occupational safety and health practitioners, legislators and policy makers, health care providers, educators, researchers, and workers and their employers.

NIOSH UPDATE: FATAL FALLS OF CONTRACTOR, TEEN WORKERS HIGHLIGHT SAFETY CONCERNS IN TELECOMMUNICATION TOWER WORK

The deaths of a contractor, his 16-year-old stepson, and a 19-year-old employee highlight the serious risk of fatal falls for workers who construct and maintain telecommunication towers in the rapidly growing cellular and wireless communications industry, a report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) finds.

Available data suggest that workers in those tasks sustain fatal occupational injuries, mostly from falls, at a substantially greater rate than employees in all U.S. industry. Because the industry has grown rapidly to meet increasing demand for additional towers, many new employers, supervisors, and workers may be unaware of the injury risk and unfamiliar with safety requirements.

Alert: Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Workers Who Operate or Work Near Forklifts, NIOSH (DHHS) Publication No. 2000-112a (December 1999)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requests assistance in preventing injuries and deaths of workers who operate or work near forklifts. Most fatalities occur when a worker is crushed by a forklift that has overturned or fallen from a loading dock.

Alert: Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths From Moving Refuse Collection Vehicles, NIOSH (DHHS) Publication No. 97-110 (May 1997)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requests assistance in preventing worker injuries and deaths associated with moving refuse collection vehicles. Data from the NIOSH National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities (NTOF) Surveillance System indicate that many fatalities occur when workers fall from or are struck by refuse collection vehicles. Recent NIOSH investigations conducted under the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program suggest that employers and workers may not be fully aware of or may be complacent about the hazards of riding on and working near moving refuse collection vehicles. This Alert describes six fatal incidents involving these vehicles and offers recommendations for preventing such incidents.

Update: NIOSH Issues Nationwide Alert on Dangers of Working from Scaffolds

On September 5, 1992, a 45-year-old masonry worker fell 50 feet to his death from a scaffold in New York.

On September 8, 1992, a 34-year-old painter plunged 364 feet from a bridge in Pennsylvania when a scaffolding cable broke. He was killed instantly.

On October 2, 1992, two bricklayers, age 35 years and 50 years, fell 47 feet to their deaths when the plywood on their scaffold gave way at a construction site in Missouri.

On October 27, 1992, a construction worker fell 13 feet when a scaffold collapsed in North Dakota. Fortunately, he was wearing a safety harness which prevented serious injury.

Tragically, these incidents are neither unusual nor unique. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that falls are a leading cause of traumatic occupational death. For the period 1980-1985, the NIOSH National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities (NTOF) database indicates that 3,491 workers fell to their deaths while trying to earn a living. Of those workers identified, 461 (17%) fell while working from a scaffold.

Alert: Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths Caused by Falls From Suspension Scaffolds, NIOSH (DHHS) Publication No. 92-108 (August 1992)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requests assistance in preventing worker injuries and deaths caused by falls from suspension scaffolds. "Suspension scaffold" means one or more working platforms suspended by ropes or other means from an overhead structure. Recent investigations by NIOSH suggest that fatal falls occur as a result of defective scaffold equipment, improper installation or operation, improper training of workers, or a failure to use appropriate personal fall protection equipment. This Alert describes five incidents resulting in six deaths caused by falls from suspension scaffolds.

Preventing Falls and Electrocutions During Tree Trimming, NIOSH (DHHS) Publication No. 92-106 (August 1992)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH] requests assistance in preventing falls and electrocutions during tree trimming or cutting. Recent NIOSH investigations conducted under the Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology (FACE) program suggest that many tree trimmers and their employers lack training and knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and may be unaware of the risk posed by inadequate or improper safety procedures and equipment. This Alert describes eight incidents involving five electrocutions and three fatal falls of tree trimmers.

Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries from Falls Through Skylights and Roof Openings, (NIOSH (DHHS) Publication No. 90-100 (December 1989)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requests assistance in preventing deaths from work near skylights, skylight openings, and other types of roof openings. Recent investigations by NIOSH suggest that many fatal falls involve such openings. This Alert describes eight deaths resulting from falls that occurred during work around these openings.

Fatality Investigation Reports (conducted under the FACE Program)

One of the initial emphasis areas for the FACE fatality investigation program was fall from elevation fatality. Since the inception of the FACE program in 1982, hundreds of fatal incidents involving confined space entry and rescue efforts have been investigated by NIOSH and State investigators. This link provides a list of those cases which in turn links to the full-text reports on the FACEWeb.

Search Results on Falls from Elevations. NIOSHTIC 2 LOGO

NIOSHTIC 2 is a searchable bibliographic database of occupational safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by the NIOSH.

Other pages of interest:

OSHA Technical link on Falls

WorkSafe Health & Safety Centre for Construction

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities (IIF) program

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