FALL INJURIES PREVENTION IN THE WORKPLACE

Publications

 

NIOSH Ladder Safety App User's Manual (Android, iOS)
The Ladder Safety application provides easy access to graphic aids, safety checklists, and reference information, to assist ladder users in making safe choices. The application can also be used with the phone as a tool to assist users in properly positioning a ladder at an optimal angle.

Preface to the special section on occupational fall prevention and protection
Human Factors: June 2012 / 54(3):301-302

Factors affecting extension ladder angular positioning
Human Factors: June 2012 / 54(3):334-345

Impact of harness fit on suspension tolerance
Human Factors: June 2012 / 54(3):346-357

Assessment of fall-arrest systems for scissor lift operators: computer modeling and manikin drop testing
Human Factors: June 2012 / 54(3):358-372

Effect of boot weight and sole flexibility on gait and physiological responses of firefighters in stepping over obstacles
Human Factors: June 2012 / 54(3):373-386

The epidemiology of slips, trips, and falls in a helicopter manufacturing plant
Human Factors: June 2012 / 54(3):387-395

Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention for Healthcare Workers
NIOSH Publication No. 2011-123 (2010)
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [2009], the incidence rate of lost-workday injuries from slips, trips, and falls (STFs) on the same level in hospitals was 38.2 per 10,000 employees, which was 90% greater than the average rate for all other private industries combined (20.1 per 10,000 employees). STFs as a whole are the second most common cause of lost-workday injuries in hospitals.

Occupational Injuries & Fatalities Due To Falls
NIOSH Publication No. 2010-143 (May 2010)
An estimated 15.9 million people worked in the Manufacturing Sector in 2008, which accounted for approximately 10.9% of the employed U.S. workforce. In 2008, 411 manufacturing sector workers died from occupational injuries. The leading causes of death were contact with objects and equipment (116), transportation incidents (104), and falls (58).

Take Pride in Your Job: Fall Protection 
NIOSH Publication No. 2009-108D (DVD) (November 2008) 
This video encourages oil and gas extraction workers to use fall protection and never be “un-clipped” and thus vulnerable when at height. The video features oil and gas extraction workers talking about their use of fall protection and sharing their personal stories about why fall protection should always be worn when working at height. The purpose of the video is to raise awareness of fall injuries in this industry and to provide information about the use, proper fit, and inspection of fall protection. This video is designed to be used in pre-shift or weekly safety meetings.

Effect of scaffold end frame carrying strategies on worker stepping response, postural stability, and perceived task difficulty
Human Factors: February 2008 / 50(1):27–36

Worker Health Chartbook, 2004
NIOSH Publication No. 2004-146 (September 2004)
This publication is a descriptive epidemiologic reference on occupational morbidity and mortality in the United States. A resource for agencies, organizations, employers, researchers, workers, and others who need to know about occupational injuries and illnesses, the Chartbook includes more than 400 figures and tables describing the magnitude, distribution, and trends of the Nation's occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

Alert: Preventing Falls of Workers through Skylights and Roof and Floor Openings
NIOSH Publication No. 2004-156 (August 2004)
This Alert describes five deaths resulting from falls through skylights and roof and floor openings. Recommendations are provided to help prevent similar deaths in the future. 

Alert: Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Workers Who Operate or Work Near Forklifts
NIOSH Publication No. 2001-109 (June 2001)
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.

NIOSH Update: Strategic Precautions Against Fatal Falls on the Job are Recommended by NIOSH (January 2, 2001)
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 Publication No. 2000-116 (November 2000)
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.

NIOSH Update: Fatal Falls of Contractor, Teen Workers Highlight Safety Concerns in Telecommunication Tower Work (April 27, 2000)
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 Worker Injuries and Deaths From Moving Refuse Collection Vehicles
NIOSH 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.
En español

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 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 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.
En español

Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries from Falls Through Skylights and Roof Openings
NIOSH 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.
En español