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.
NIOSH Publications on Falls
Evaluation of a comprehensive slip, trip and fall prevention programme for hospital employees
Bell, Jennifer L.; Collins, James W.; Wolf, Laurie; Grönqvist, Raoul; Chiou, Sharon; Chang,
Wen-Ruey; Sorock, Gary
S.; Courtney, Theodore K.; Lombardi, David A. and Evanoff, Bradley
Ergonomics 2008; 51(12):1906-1925
The comprehensive prevention programme includes analysis of injury records to identify common causes of STFs, on-site hazard assessments, changes to housekeeping procedures and products, introduction of STF preventive products and procedures, general awareness campaigns, programmes for external ice and snow removal, flooring changes and slip-resistant footwear for certain employee subgroups.
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.
Alert: Preventing
Falls of Workers through Skylights and Roof and Floor Openings
DHHS (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.
Worker Deaths
by Falls: A Summary of Surveillance Findings and Investigative Case Reports
DHHS (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.
Worker Health
Chartbook, 2004 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.
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
DHHS (NIOSH) 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
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-110 (May 1997)
En
español
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
DHHS (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
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-106 (August 1992)
En
español
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
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-100 (December 1989)
En
español
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.
In-house Fatality Investigation Reports
(conducted under the FACE Program)
State-based 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 fall from elevation have been investigated by NIOSH and State investigators.
These links provide a list of those cases which in turn links to the full-text
reports on the FACEWeb.
NIOSHTIC-2 Search
Search
Results on Falls from Elevations
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
Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities (IIF) program
External link: http://www.bls.gov/iif/
eLCOSH Search Results on Falls
External Link: http://www.cdc.gov/search.do?action=search&subset=elcosh&queryText=falls&x=19&y=1
The Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health (eLCOSH) - Provides accurate, user-friendly
information about safety and health for construction workers from a wide range of sources worldwide.
External Link: http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/
OSHA
Technical link on Falls
External link: http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html
WorkSafe
Health & Safety Centre for Construction
External link: http://www2.worksafebc.com/Portals/Construction/Home.asp?_from=
construction.healthandsafetycenter.com
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