ISSUES:
According to the National Safety Council, 46,653 people died in falls at home or work in 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private industry reported 674,100 workplace injuries (19.9% of all cases) resulting in days away from work, job restrictions, or job transfers due to slips, trips, or falls in 2021–22.
Slips, trips, and falls are a major cause of injuries on construction sites. Hazards include slippery surfaces (like wet or oily substances), uneven surfaces (like debris, elevation changes, pipes, and holes), or poor lighting. Hole hazards on construction sites are one significant safety concern.
Some slips, trips, or falls examples follow:
- Wet or Oily Surfaces: Spills of water, oil, grease, or other liquids can create dangerous conditions.
- Weather Conditions: Rain, snow, ice, and tracked-in mud can make surfaces slippery.
- Loose Materials: Dry spills like dust, powders, or metal shavings can also cause slipping.
- Poor Housekeeping: Failure to clean up spills promptly or properly dispose of debris can lead to hazards.
- Changes in Elevation: Steps, ramps, and even subtle changes in floor levels can cause trips.
- Uneven Ground: Construction sites often have uneven terrain, loose gravel, or shifting tiles, which can create instability.
- Floor Holes: These can include missing floorboards, sunken gravel or dirt, ladder openings, roof and floor drains, chipped concrete, and precast concrete openings.
- Building Shafts: Vertical openings like elevator shafts, ventilation shafts, stairwells, and service shafts pose a significant fall risk.
- Excavations and Trenches: Improperly stored or sloped excavations can collapse, burying workers.
- Skylights: Unprotected skylights are particularly dangerous, as they can be easily stepped on or fallen through.
- Irregular Surfaces: Damaged or irregular flooring, including metal grates or rumpled carpeting, can be hazardous.
SOURCES OF HAZARDS:
- Slippery Surfaces: Spills of liquids (water, oil, grease), wet cement, mud, and tracked-in debris can create hazardous conditions.
- Uneven Surfaces: Construction sites often have uneven terrain, holes, protruding materials (like rebar), and loose materials (gravel, debris) that can cause trips.
- Poor Lighting: Inadequate or obstructed lighting can make it difficult to see hazards and judge footing.
- Working at Height: Scaffolds, ladders, and other elevated work areas require careful attention to safety procedures.
- Unprotected Openings: Floor holes, drains, and areas where materials have been removed can expose workers to fall hazards.
- Roof Openings: Skylights, hatches, and incomplete roofing materials create risks.
- Wall Openings: Unprotected wall openings, especially near elevated work areas, can lead to falls.
- Elevator Shafts: Open shafts without protection are a major hazard.
- Manholes: Uncovered or improperly covered manholes can cause serious falls.
- Improperly Secured Structures: Scaffolding that is unstable, improperly erected, or inadequately guarded can collapse or cause falls.
- Ladders: Defective or unsecured ladders increase fall risk.
- Walkways and Work Platforms: Unprotected walkways or platforms can cause falls if not properly secured.
- Trench and Excavation Walls: Without proper shoring or support, trench walls can collapse.
- Improper Sloping or Benching: Incorrect excavation practices can lead to cave-ins.
- Equipment Near Edges: Heavy equipment operating close to trenches can destabilize soil.
- Lack of Ladders or Ramps: Workers require safe egress from excavations.
- Poor Housekeeping: Debris and scattered materials obscure hazards and create tripping risks.
- Inadequate Lighting: Poor lighting can conceal holes or other hazards.
- Lack of Safety Equipment: Missing harnesses, guardrails, or fall protection increases risks.
REGULATIONS:
- OSHA Standard Subpart R – Floor Opening: 1926.754(e)(3)(i)–(iv)
- OSHA Standard Subpart M – Falls: 1926.503(a)(1)
- OSHA Standard Subpart X – Ladders: 1926.1053(b)(1), (b)(6), (b)(7), (b)(22)
- OSHA Standard Subpart C – Housekeeping: 1926.25(a)
- OSHA Standard Subpart L – Scaffolding: 1926.451(b)(1)(i)
EXAMPLE INCIDENTS:
- 6/28/2024 – Employee Dies of Multiple Injuries in Fall Through Floor Hole (OSHA Report 420600)
- 11/24/2023 – Employee Falls to Bottom of Elevator Shaft and Suffers Fatal Injuries (OSHA Report 317000)
- 9/13/2023 – Employee is Killed in Fall from Height (OSHA Report 215000)
- 7/17/2023 – Employee Sustains Trauma in Fall Through Floor, Later Dies (OSHA Report 453710)
- 7/14/2023 – Employee is Killed in Fall from Elevation (OSHA Report 626000)
- 3/24/2023 – Employee is Killed in Fall Through Floor Hole (OSHA Report 215000)
- 12/15/2022 – Employee Falls Through Hole in Floor, Later Dies (OSHA Report 625400)
- 11/2/2022 – Employee Dies After Falling Through Hole in Roof (OSHA Report 316700)
- 9/28/2022 – Employee is Electrocuted While Cutting Hole in Floor (OSHA Report 625700)
- 9/26/2022 – Employee Cutting Concrete is Killed After Fall Through Floor (OSHA Report 316100)
- 8/29/2022 – Employee is Killed in Fall Through Floor Hole at Building Site (OSHA Report 214700)
- 6/30/2022 – Employee is Killed in Fall Through Skylight (OSHA Report 419400)
- 6/29/2022 – Employee Falls Through Skylight and is Killed (OSHA Report 418400)
- 6/24/2022 – Employee Doing Repairs is Killed in Fall Through Roof Hole (OSHA Report 830500)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Identify and assess slip, trip, and fall hazards.
- Establish controls to reduce or eliminate risks.
- Verify that control measures are effective.
- Maintain good housekeeping.
- Provide adequate lighting.
- Mark hazards with signs and barriers.
- Cover, mark, and secure all hole openings.
- Wear slip-resistant footwear.
- Use ladders and scaffolds correctly, with guardrails where required.
- Practice good work habits and stay alert.
- Provide worker training.
IMPORTANT DO’S TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT SLIPS, TRIPS, & FALLS:
- Do remove clutter from walkways.
- Do identify and mark all holes.
- Do use two hands to climb or descend ladders
- Do maintain three-point contact on ladders.
- Do provide wet floor signage.
- Do design jobs to reduce overreaching and obstructions.
- Do wear properly fitted slip-resistant footwear.
- Do select, use, and maintain fall protection equipment.
IMPORTANT DON’TS TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT SLIPS, TRIPS, & FALLS:
- Do not ignore spills or tracked-in debris.
- Do not ignore uneven surfaces, holes, or protruding materials.
- Do not ignore floor holes or unprotected openings.
- Do not delay correcting obvious hazards such as poor lighting, unsafe scaffolding, or lack of safe egress.
National Safety Council. “Injury Facts: Falls.” NSC Injury Facts, 2023, www.nsc.org
