Implementing safety measures to prevent dropped and falling objects saves lives, time, and money. It is much more efficient to proactively implement drop prevention strategies and other drop prevention measures from the very beginning.

Injuries due to dropped or falling objects are a common hazard across all industry sectors and have resulted in many claims and serious or even fatal injuries. Both workers on-site and members of the public are at risk if workplace safety is not managed effectively. (Workplace Safety and Health Council, 2020).

How many serious claims were made in the United States in 2021-2022?

In the United States, for the period 2021-2022, the occupations experiencing the most Days Away from Work, Job Restriction, or Transfer (DART) cases include:

• Transportation and material moving (835,040 – 25% of total)
• Production (416,330 – 12% of total)
• Healthcare support (284,840 – 8% of total)
• Healthcare practitioners and technical (284,690 – 8% of total). (National Safety Council, 2024).

How many serious claims were made in Australia in 2021-2022?

In Australia, for the period 2021-2022, the serious claims frequency rate was the highest for:

• Laborers (24.8 claims per million hours worked)
• Community and personal service workers (15.6 claims per million hours worked)
• Machinery operators and drivers (11.5 claims per million hours worked), and
• Technicians and trades workers (7.4 claims per million hours worked).

The occupations which accounted for the most serious claims for 2021-2022 were:

• Laborers (34,900)
• Community and personal service workers (27,500)
• Technicians and trades workers (20,000), and
• Machinery operators and drivers (16,200).

These four occupational groups collectively accounted for 77.7% of serious claims during the 2021-2022 period, despite comprising only 38.2% of the workforce. (Safe Work Australia, 2023).

What industry is most affected by injuries because of dropped or falling object?

Dropped or falling object hazards are commonly associated with workplace accidents, particularly in the construction industry. In fact, OSHA classifies struck-by/falling object accidents among its "Fatal Four," highlighting the significant risk of serious or fatal injuries for victims struck by falling objects. (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2024).

Workers in construction, industrial settings, and other workplaces may encounter various risks related to falling objects, including incidents involving:

• Falling debris or building materials (e.g., metal or wood beams, masonry, metal fittings, etc.)
• Falling equipment or tools (e.g., power tools, nail guns, compressors, etc.)
• Swinging materials or loads that have been mechanically lifted
• Cranes and other heavy machinery
• Demolition accidents.

To mitigate the risks posed by dropped and falling object hazards on worksites, safety organizations, like OSHA, regulations require employers to adequately train their workforce and provide proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including approved hard hats and head protection. Additionally, other parties on construction sites, such as contractors and property owners, have a duty to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of their premises. (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2024).

Do dropped or falling objects injuries affect non-workers?

Although dropped and falling object accidents are most common on worksites, anyone can be injured by being struck by an object. Such incidents may involve:

• Objects, tools, or equipment from nearby construction sites
• Items or pallets at grocery stores or other retailers
• Lighting, sound, or set equipment at nightclubs, concert venues, or other event spaces
• Items falling from balconies or ledges
• Bricks or structural materials from multi-story buildings. (The McClellan Law Firm, 2024).

What are the types of dropped or falling object injuries that someone can sustain?

Individuals struck by dropped or falling objects can sustain a variety of injuries, some of which may have severe and lasting health consequences or result in a fatality. Examples include:

• Traumatic brain injuries/concussions
• Neck or back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
• Burns or electrocution, if the falling objects are hot, on fire, or electrified
• Crush injuries, including those resulting in amputation. (The McClellan Law Firm, 2024).

The implementation of comprehensive safety measures to prevent dropped and falling objects is essential for safeguarding lives, reducing workplace injuries, and minimizing financial losses. The data clearly shows that such incidents are not limited to any single sector, with construction being particularly affected, but they also pose significant risks to the public in various environments.

The high rate of serious claims among laborers, community and personal service workers, machinery operators and drivers, and technicians and trades workers underscore the critical need for stringent safety protocols. Both employers and other stakeholders, such as contractors and property owners, have a responsibility to ensure that safety measures, including proper training and the use of drop prevention solutions and personal protective equipment, are in place to protect workers and the public alike.

By prioritizing these precautions, we can significantly reduce the incidence of serious injuries and fatalities associated with dropped and falling objects.

Since its inception, GRIPPS^® has been dedicated to eliminating critical risks and saving worker’s lives, through the implementation of innovative, engineered drop prevention solutions. As the leader in tool tethering and falling object prevention, we work closely with partners across a wide range of sectors, engineering solutions that ensure their workforce safely returns home after each shift.

Contact us today to support you on your safety journey and eliminating workplace injuries caused by dropped or falling objects.

Sources:

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. (2024). Facts and Figures. Retrieved from https://osha.europa.eu/en/facts-and-figures

National Safety Council. (2024). Industry Incidence and Rates. Retrieved from https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/industry-incidence-rates/work-related-incident-rate-trends/

Safe Work Australia. (2023). Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2023. Retrieved from https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/insights/key-whs-stats-2023

The McClellan Law Firm. (2024). Struck by falling object accidents in San Diego. Were you seriously injured by a falling object? Retrieved from https://www.mcclellanlaw.com/personal-injury/struck-by-a-falling-object/#:~:text=Neck%20or%20back%20injuries%3B,including%20those%20resulting%20in%20amputation

Workplace Safety and Health Council. (2020). Falling Objects. Retrieved from https://www.tal.sg/wshc/topics/housekeeping/falling-objects#