IOSH
Working at height
A global problem
An estimated 684,000 workers fell to their death last year. And 684,000 more workers will fall to their death this year. This makes falls from height the second leading cause of death from injury after road traffic accidents. And it affects people in a variety of industries all over the world.
The global picture
With nearly 2,000 people dying from falls every day, ‘oops’ is not an option.
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.
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.
"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
What can we do?
You've seen the facts. Now it's time to act. We're getting ready to launch a campaign to help keep people safe when they're working from height. We can't do it alone. Check back here to find out more and how you can play a part.
Sources
- Abu Dhabi | Department of Health | Falls from height and falling objects are leading cause of fatal injuries on worksites.
- Australia | WAHA (2024) | Key WHS statistics Australia 2024.
Australian Institute for Health and Welfare (2024) | Injury in Australia: falls. - European Union | Eurostat (2024) | Accidents at work – statistics on causes and circumstances.
EU-OSHA (2022) | Slips, trips and falls. - Japan | Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (2022) | Fall from height accidents in each large industry in Japan in 2022.
- South Korea | Son, S., et al (2024) | Assessment of risk priorities by cause of construction safety accidents: a case study of falling accidents in South Korea.
- United Kingdom | No Falls Foundation | UK falls from height research study.
- United States | Harris, W., et al. ( 2024) | Fatal and nonfatal falls in the US construction industry, 2011-2022.
CPWR | Falls, slips and trips in construction. - World Health Organization | Falls.