Important Questions
Why Do We Need It?
We need protection because even those of us with experience working at heights can lose our balance or grip; we can slip, trip, or misstep at any time.
Why Fall Protection: True Story
We may think that our reflexes will protect us, but we're falling before we know it, and we don't have to fall far to be seriously injured. We've been falling since day one. Until we get better at landing, we'll need protection from falling.
The construction industry experienced the highest frequency of fall-related deaths, while the highest counts of nonfatal fall injuries continue to be associated with the health services and the wholesale and retail industries. Particularly at risk of fall injuries are those working in:
- Healthcare support
- Building cleaning and maintenance
- Transportation and material moving
- Construction and extraction occupations
Fall injuries create a considerable financial burden: workers' compensation and medical costs associated with occupational fall incidents have been estimated at $70 billion annually in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2020, 1,008 construction workers died on the job, with 351 of those fatalities due to falls from elevation.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-1. Which of the following industries experience the highest frequency of fall-related deaths?
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