Best Practices to Mitigate Fall Risks on Worksites — Occupational Health & Safety

Watch Your Step: Best Practices to Mitigate Fall Risks on Worksites

Slips, trips and falls lead to thousands of injuries every year. Learn how to prevent them to improve worker safety.

• By David Perecman
• Jun 24, 2022

Did you know that slips, trips and falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related fatalities? In recognition of this critical issue, the National Safety Council (NSC) has made slip, trip and fall accident prevention and risk mitigation a key part of this year’s initiatives for National Safety Month—an annual observance intended to keep individuals safe both in and out of the workplace.

Prevalence of Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents On the Job

Slip, trip and fall accidents are common and can result in serious, even fatal, injuries. According to the NSC, in 2020, more than 211,000 workers suffered injuries that required days off from work, and 805 workers passed away as a result of a fall accident. Data reveals that falls from heights are not the only risk to workers—according to Injury Facts, 136 workers died due to fall injuries on the same level in 2020.

The most at-risk workers for fall-related injuries and deaths are those that work in the construction industry. According to OSHA, falls are the leading cause of death for construction workers. In 2020, there were 351 fatal falls to lower levels out of 1,008 construction fatalities.

Best Practices to Mitigate Slip and Fall Accidents

Workplace accidents involving slips, trips and falls are preventable with proper safety and risk mitigation protocols in place.

According to OSHA, employers are required to:

• Provide safe working conditions, free of known risks of injury or death
• Keep all floor areas in work zones in a clean, dry condition.
• Select and provide workers with required personal protective equipment (PPE) free of charge.
• Provide proper training to workers about safety hazards on the job in a language they can understand.

Best practices for mitigating slips, trips and falls on the job may vary per work environment; however, there are some that are universally applicable.

First, it is important to discuss the job tasks with workers; this includes making sure that the type of equipment needed is determined and the worker is properly trained to perform the task and use the equipment properly. Second, it’s important for employers and/or site safety managers to scan the work area for potential safety risks prior to workers performing job duties. Next, ensure that there is level ground to set up any equipment. If working outdoors, make sure to check the weather forecast. Workers should not perform job tasks in inclement weather. Finally, never use old or damaged equipment and thoroughly check equipment prior to performing work duties.