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Fatal work-related falls to a lower level increased 26 percent from 2011 to 2016
May 07, 2018
Fatal work-related falls to a lower level increased 26 percent from 2011 to 2016. There were 553 fatal falls to lower level in 2011 and 697 in 2016. The number of fatal falls to a lower level increased each year in this period except for 2015. Over the 6-year period, there were 3,723 fatal falls to a lower level.
Fatal work-related falls to a lower level by industry, 2011–16
Year
Construction
Professional and business services
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Natural resources and mining
Manufacturing
All other private industries
Government
2011
255
92
49
44
38
44
31
2012
279
73
73
48
29
46
22
2013
291
85
59
43
31
60
26
2014
345
80
67
54
35
61
18
2015
350
93
50
33
50
49
23
2016
370
96
65
38
37
71
20
Most of the increase in fatal falls to a lower level occurred in the private construction industry. Fatal falls to a lower level in private construction increased from 255 in 2011 to 370 in 2016, a 45-percent increase. In all other industries combined, the increase was 10 percent. Over the 6-year period, more than half the fatal falls to a lower level occurred in the private construction.
Fatal work-related falls to a lower level by source and height of fall, 2011–16
Height
Ladders
Roofs
Vehicles
Scaffolds, staging
Machinery
Trees
Stairs, steps
All other sources
Over 30 feet
29
127
62
93
81
81
4
181
26–30 feet
27
100
19
26
19
20
2
50
21–25 feet
59
130
16
43
14
12
3
45
16–20 feet
109
146
27
48
33
16
6
46
11–15 feet
145
151
49
50
23
6
14
93
6–10 feet
174
41
63
50
20
7
20
85
Under 6 feet
87
—
127
18
21
1
40
108
Height not specified
206
67
53
59
29
32
67
142
Note: Dash means no data were reported or data do not meet publication standards.
In fatal injuries resulting from falls to a lower level, the primary source is the object or surface from which the worker fell. From 2011 to 2016, the most common sources in these cases were ladders (836 fatal injuries) and roofs (763). The most common height of a fall was over 30 feet (658 fatal injuries).
United States Department of Labor
