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:

  1. Sprains, strains, and tears
  2. Soreness and pain
  3. Fractures
  4. 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.

  • Compliance Requirements
  • Training
  • Time Savers
  • Best Practices
Related Topics


Applies to News & White Papers
TopicTitleDateState
Slips and Falls Best Practices Checklist: Preventing Customer Slips, Trips, and Falls in a Retail Setting  National
Slips and Falls Best Practices Checklist: Preventing Customer Slips, Trips, and Falls in Restaurants  National
Ladders Do fixed or portable ladders need to have a concrete floor to be placed on? ... 11/25/2009National
Ladders Falling off ladders can kill: Use them safely  National
Housekeeping Good Housekeeping  National
Housekeeping Good Housekeeping Practices (Outline)  National
Housekeeping Good Housekeeping Regulatory Compliance Audit Checklist  National
Job Hazard Analysis Job Hazard Analysis (Outline)  National
Ladders Ladder Safety  National
Ladders Ladder Safety Regulatory Compliance Audit Checklist  National
Ladders Ladders  National
Slips and Falls Office Space  National
Slips and Falls OSHA Walking-Working Surfaces (outline)  National
Ladders Portable ladder loads are restricted to 200 pounds. Does that include the weight of the person on the ladder? 07/27/2009National
Ladders Portable Ladder Safety Plan  National
Ladders Portable ladders: Choose the right one  National
Ladders Portable ladders: Inspections  National
Ladders Portable ladders: Safe work practices while climbing and working  National
Ladders Portable ladders: Setting up safely  National
Ladders Portable stepladders: Work practices for safe use  National
Slips and Falls Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls at Industrial Sites: A Guide for Employees  National
Slips and Falls Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls: A Guide for Employees  National
Slips and Falls Restaurant safety: Preventing customer falls  National
Slips and Falls Retail safety: Preventing customer falls  National
Scaffolding Scaffold Safety (Outline)  National
Scaffolding Scaffolding  National
Slips and Falls Slip, Trip, and Falls Hazard Assessment Survey  National
Slips and Falls Slips, Trips, and Falls (outline)  National
Slips and Falls Slips, Trips, and Falls Plan  National
Slips and Falls Slips, Trips, and Falls: What Supervisors Need to Know  National
Slips and Falls Slips, Trips, and Falls; Ladder and Platform Audit Checklist (Word)  National
Ladders Stairways and Ladders  National
Slips and Falls Stand Up To Falls  National
Slips and Falls Stand Up To Falls Quiz  National
Slips and Falls Walking-Working Surfaces Housekeeping Regulatory Compliance Audit Checklist  National
Housekeeping Walking/Working Surfaces  National
Ladders We store items on top of our office which is floored. We access it with a extension ladder. Are we required to have hand rails along the edge? The floored area is 9' high. 10/14/2009National
Ladders What are the OSHA rules for fall protection when using portable ladders, such as step or extension ladders? 11/04/2010National
Ladders Working Safely with Ladders (Outline)  National
Housekeeping Workplace Housekeeping Plan  National
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