Putting the Focus on Fall Protection

Falls continue to be a leading cause of workplace injuries and fatalities. In 2011, BLS reports that 40% of the injuries and illness cases requiring days away from work were attributed to three types of events or exposures--falls on the same level (15%); struck by object or equipment (13%); and overexertion in lifting or lowering (12%). BLS adds that injuries and illnesses incurred from falls on the same level and overexertion in lifting or lowering each required a median of 10 days for workers to recuperate--2 more than the 8 days required for all types of events or exposures. Furthermore, falls, slips, or trips took the lives of 668 workers in 2012, with falls to a lower level accounting for 544 or about 81% of those fatalities.

Statistics such as these keep fall protection top-of-mind for many EHS professionals and the broader occupational safety community. Here are links to several EHS Works posts on fall-protection-related topics:

• OSHA’s Top 10 Citations
• Fall Hazard Risk Assessment
• Z359 Fall Protection Code Updated
• Fall Rescue Systems
• Workplace Fatalities From Falls
• Fall Protection in Construction

You can also learn more about the Z359 Code and fall prevention strategies starting tomorrow during ASSE's virtual symposium that will include five live webinars on preventing falls from heights. Learn more here.