IOSH
Working at height: don’t fall silent
Falls from height are the second leading cause of death from injury after road traffic accidents. And they affect workers in a variety of industries all over the world.
Help us stop the silences
Every day, 2,000 people fall to their deaths when working at height. And the world falls apart for those left behind.
We’re working to stop the silences by sharing better knowledge, inspiring change and turning insight into action.
On this page you can find out the true cost of falls from height and meet the people behind the statistics.
We encourage you to download our toolkit and share the resources to help you and your colleagues to work safely. We don't want any more conversations left unfinished...
The global picture
Behind every statistic is a person who went to work in the morning, expecting to come home.
Select the red dot to view area-specific statistics. These highlight the impact of falls from height. This data only tells part of the story, as we don’t have information for every country where people work at height.
United States
Since 2013, workers in the construction industry have suffered over 300 fatal and 20,000 non-fatal fall-related injuries annually. Falls to a lower level accounted for almost all fatal (95.1%) and half of non-fatal (50.2%) falls, slips and trips in 2020.
United Kingdom
The total cost of falls from height in 2022/23 is estimated to be over £847 million. This is made up of costs to the employer and the individual, government tax losses and benefit payments.
European Union
Accidents resulting from slipping, stumbling or falling in the EU accounted for 18% of all fatal and non-fatal accidents in 2022. In 2019, there were 584,371 workplace accidents due to slips, trips and falls, of which 520 were fatal.
Abu Dhabi
Falls from height and falling objects are the leading cause of fatal injuries on worksites, causing almost 50% of fatal injuries.
South Korea
In 2018, there were 26,486 injuries in the construction industry. Of these, 9,191 (34.7%) were due to falls, which accounts for the highest proportion.
Japan
In 2022, there were 14,539 accidents in the construction sector, with 4,594 (32%) caused by falls from height. Of the 17,735 accidents recorded in the transportation sector, 4,333 (24%) were caused by falls. And 2,867 (11%) of the 26,694 accidents recorded in manufacturing were caused by falls from height.
Australia
In 2023, 200 workers died, with 29 of the fatalities due to falls from height. In 2020-21, fall injuries are estimated to have cost the health system $4.7 billion.
Stories behind the statistics
"Globally, falls are responsible for over 38 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost each year. They result in more years lived with disability than transport injury, drowning, burns and poisoning combined."
World Health Organization
True cost of injuries
Fall from height accidents can significantly impact the physical, psychological and financial wellbeing of those injured.
Falls from height can result in a range of injuries, from minor sprains to severe, life-threatening conditions. Common injuries include:
- fractures and broken bones
- head and brain Injuries
- spinal cord injuries
- soft tissue injuries.
The severity of these injuries often depends on factors such as the nature of activity, height of the fall, surface landed on, and the person's physiological condition.
Beyond physical injuries, falls from height can have significant psychological effects.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – the trauma of the incident can lead to PTSD, characterised by flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety.
- Reduced quality of life – chronic pain and disability can lead to a diminished sense of wellbeing and life satisfaction.
These psychological effects can persist long after physical recovery, affecting personal relationships and overall mental health.
The financial consequences of falls from height can be substantial for both workers and employers.
- Medical expenses – treatment for injuries often involves hospital stays, surgeries and long-term rehabilitation, leading to high medical costs.
- Lost wages – injured workers may be unable to work for extended periods, resulting in loss of income, impacting their financial wellbeing.
- Legal costs – employers may face legal expenses if found liable for the accident.
- Insurance premiums – companies may experience increased insurance premiums due to higher claims.
Speak up for safety
You’ve read about the devastating impact of a fall at work. You can play a part in keeping people safe by reading and sharing our working at height toolkit.
Sources: Abu Dhabi: Department of Health – Falls from height and falling objects on worksites. Australia: WAHA (2024) – WHS Statistics, AIHW (2024) – Injury in Australia: Falls. EU: Eurostat (2024) – Work accident causes, EU-OSHA (2022) – Slips, trips, and falls. Japan: JISHA (2022) – Fall accidents by industry. South Korea: Son et al. (2024) – Risk assessment of falling accidents. UK: No Falls Foundation – Falls from height study. USA: Harris et al. (2024) – Construction falls (2011–2022), CPWR – Falls, slips, and trips in construction. WHO: Global data on falls.