What factors can put workers at risk of a fall from a height?

While any fall can lead to injuries, falls from ladders, scaffolding, roofs or elevated working platforms can be particularly dangerous. These falls cause thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths every year, and they are the leading cause of death in the construction industry. What conditions can contribute to these dangerous falls?

Clutter and other tripping hazards

When workplaces are not kept clear of tools, materials, power cords and other tripping hazards, it can put workers at risk of a fall.

Weather

When working outdoors, the weather can have a significant impact on employees’ working conditions. Rain can make the surfaces of a scaffold slippery, and high winds can make raised surfaces unsteady or cause workers to lose balance.

Inexperience

Workers need to have appropriate safety training in order to properly set up scaffolds, work on these elevated platforms and use safety equipment. They should also have the training necessary to identify on-the-job risks.

Lack of safety measures

In addition to providing training to employees, employers should also take safety precautions to protect their workers. Guardrails and fall arrest systems can be key to protecting workers from a slip or stumble. If employers do not provide these safety measures and properly maintain those systems, employers put their employees at risk.

The impact of falls from a height can be devastating. They may lead to concussions and other brain injuries, broken bones and other serious injuries, and some of these injuries may be fatal. If you or a loved one suffered from a fall in the workplace, you may want to explore your legal options.