Workers’ compensation costs of slip, trip, and fall injuries by type:
- Falls on same level: $15.4 billion
- Falls to lower level: $4.9 billion
- Slip or trip without fall: $2.1 billion
Slips, trips, and falls were responsible for nearly 300,000 injuries requiring days away from work in 2012, making it the second leading cause of nonfatal occupational injuries. Falls on the same level accounted for over 60 percent of these cases. Slips, trips, and falls are also the fourth leading cause of fatal occupational injuries, responsible for over 700 deaths in 2012.
Injuries from slips, trips, and falls require a median of 11 days away from work to recover and cost employers more than $15 billion in direct workers’ compensation costs in 2011. Slips, trips, and falls most commonly cause the following types of injuries:
- Sprains, strains, and tears
- Soreness and pain
- Fractures
- Bruises and contusions
In general industry, OSHA regulates slip, trip, and fall hazards through its walking and working surfaces standards in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D. These regulations include rules for protection from falls to lower levels via guardrails and other methods; protection from slip and trip hazards by maintaining floors and other surfaces in a safe, clean, and dry condition; safe ladder and scaffold use; and more.