Fatal work‐related falls in the United States, 2003‐2014

Background Falls are the second leading cause of work‐related fatalities among US workers. We describe fatal work‐related falls from 2003 to 2014, including demographic, work, and injury event characteristics, and changes in rates over time. Methods We identified fatal falls from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and estimated rates using the BLS Current Population Survey. Results From 2003 to 2014, there were 8880 fatal work‐related falls, at an annual rate of 5.5 per million FTE. Rates increased with age. Occupations with the highest rates included construction/extraction (42.2 per million FTE) and installation/maintenance/repair (12.5 per million FTE). Falls to a lower level represented the majority (n = 7521, 85%) compared to falls on the same level (n = 1128, 13%). Conclusions Falls are a persistent source of work‐related fatalities. Fall prevention should continue to focus on regulation adherence, Prevention through Design, improving fall protection, training, fostering partnerships, and increasing communication.