5 Things To Know About Workplace Falls

Falls can happen anywhere and cause all sorts of injuries. These injuries often do not only result in lost wages and the need for medical treatment. They can also lead to disabling conditions and are sometimes fatal.

At Rosado, Apat & Dudley, LLP, we help clients pursue full and fair compensation for slip-and-fall injuries. We serve clients throughout the New York City area from offices in Queens, Nassau County (Freeport) and the Bronx. Give us a call today to discuss your specific with a knowledgeable attorney.

Here are five useful things to know about falls in the workplace:

1. Falls are remarkably frequent.

More than half of general industry accidents involve falls. In addition, 17 percent of disabling occupational injuries result from falls.

2. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) defines two different types of falls.

The DOL distinguishes between falls at the same level and falls to a lower level. Falls from heights can of course be especially dangerous. But falls at the same level can also cause significant injuries.

3. There are detailed federal rules on how employers are supposed to maintain workplaces to prevent falls.

These rules include safety standards that apply to all sorts of surfaces, including aisles, floors, stairways and railings, as well as to ladders.

4. Compliance by employers with federal fall-prevention standards is not what it should be.

In fiscal year 2015, for example, fall protection violations were most commonly cited violation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

5. In the construction industry, falls result in many on-the-job deaths.

In 2014, 359 construction workers died in falls.

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