1 US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Injuries/Illnesses and Fatal Injuries Profiles-Case and Demographic Numbers. Date accessed: November 14, 2018. 

https://data.bls.gov/gqt/InitialPage

2 US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Injuries/Illnesses and Fatal Injuries Profiles-Fatal Injuries Numbers. Date accessed: April 6, 2018. 

https://data.bls.gov/gqt/InitialPage

Masthead: ©Huntstock, Getty Images; ©Elenathewise, Getty Images; ©diego_cervo, Getty Images; House Graphic: ©Thinkstock

Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational 

Safety and Health

NIOSH

@NIOSHFACE

@NIOSHConstruct

 Prevent Construction Falls

 from Roofs, Ladders, and Scaffolds 

Falls are the leading cause of construction worker deaths on the job.1 This fact sheet gives recommendations, 

reports, and resources to help employers, safety professionals, and workers prevent fall injuries and 

deaths from roofs, ladders, and scaffolds.

Ladders

104 deaths in 20162

Recommendations

FACE Reports

Resources

Roofs

124 deaths in 20162

Recommendations

FACE Reports

Resources

Scaffolds

60 deaths in 20162

Recommendations

FACE Reports

Resources

Each year in the U.S. more than

310 construction workers are killed 

and more than 10,350 are seriously 

injured by falls from heights.1,2
Some factors that contribute 

to falls from roofs: 

• Worker inexperience or lack of training

• No fall protection program or a personal fall 

 arrest system

• No personal fall protection used 

• Incorrect fall arrest system anchorage method

• Lack of fall arrest system lanyard connection point

• Incorrect working length of fall arrest system lifeline

• Working alone when working at elevations 

• Working during inclement weather (e.g., wind, rain)

For more reports on falls from roofs, visit:

www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/

81% of deaths from 

roofs occur in the 

construction industry2

2 US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Injuries/Illnesses and Fatal Injuries 

Profiles-Fatal Injuries Numbers. Date accessed: April 6, 2018. https://data.bls.gov/gqt/InitialPage

Some recommendations to 

prevent falls from roofs:

 Implement a fall protection program 

 Wear fall protection, and use correctly

 Get training on fall protection

 Train and assign a person to inspect fall 

 protection equipment before each use

 Use correct anchorage for fall arrest systems

 Extend the side rails of the ladder 3 feet 

 above the roof edge

Use a buddy system when working at heights

 Monitor weather conditions

Read some of our 

FACE reports on roof falls: 

Roofer Dies After Gust Of Wind Knocks Him and Co-Worker Off Roof – Kentucky (Report #13KY059)

A roofer and a co-worker arrived at the construction site to put a roof on a building. The roofer and co-worker 

climbed an extension ladder to get on top of the roof to determine where they were going to place their 

anchors to tie off. While reviewing the structure, a gust of wind caused both workers to fall off the roof, 

and one roofer died.

Hispanic Worker Falls From Residential Roof – North Carolina (Report NIOSH FACE #2012-02)

A laborer fell from a residential roof to a concrete driveway and died from his injuries. The laborer was 

replacing shingles on a roof. While working on the roof, he was wearing his fall protection incorrectly.

Roof Falls in Construction

©Huntstock, Getty Images
Some factors that contribute 

to ladder falls: 

• Worker inexperience or lack of training

• Improper ladder selection

• Improper use of a ladder

• Ladder overloading 

• Ladder not set up on a flat, level surface 

 or at a proper angle

• Not extending the ladder above the roof line

• Lack of safe access

Ladder Falls in Construction

For more reports on ladder falls, visit:

www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/

57% of deaths from 

ladders occur in the 

construction industry2

2 US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Injuries/Illnesses and Fatal Injuries 

Profiles-Fatal Injuries Numbers. Date accessed: April 6, 2018. https://data.bls.gov/gqt/InitialPage

Some recommendations to 

prevent ladder falls: 

 Get training on how to properly use ladders

 Choose the right ladder for the job

 Inspect ladders regularly and ensure they 

 are in good working order

 Use ladder on flat and level ground 

 Secure and position the ladder in the safest 

 location possible

 Extend the side rails of the ladder 3 feet 

 above the roof edge

 Face the ladder at all times when climbing

 Maintain 3 points of contact with the ladder 

 at all times

 Don’t overload a ladder

Use the NIOSH Ladder Safety App to set 

Read some of our proper ladder angle

FACE reports on ladder falls: 

Carpenter Injured After Falling From An Extension Ladder (Report #15MA037)

A carpenter was killed after falling from an extension ladder. The carpenter and a co-worker were onsite to do 

gutter work on a house. The carpenter was climbing an extension ladder that was set up on stone pavers to 

access the roof. While climbing the ladder, he fell when the ladder slipped out from under him. The carpenter 

died 16 days later.

Hispanic Worker Dies After Fall From Step Ladder While Cleaning Windows – North Carolina (Report NIOSH 

FACE #2009-01)

A worker died after a fall from an 8-foot step ladder. A bucket partially filled with a cleaning solution was tied 

with a rag to the top of the ladder. The worker was on a ladder cleaning windows. While cleaning, he did not 

maintain 3 points of contact with the ladder and he fell and hit his head.

©Elenathewise, Getty Images
Some factors that 

contribute to scaffold falls: 

• No fall protection program

• Worker inexperience or lack of training

• Workers not trained to identify, understand, 

 and control fall hazards

• Lack of fall protection or fall arrest system

• Unstable work surface 

• Improper scaffold construction, selection, or use

• No use of guardrails

• Wheels are unlocked before mounting the work 

 platform 

• Working alone from heights during off hours

Scaffold Falls in Construction

For more reports on scaffold falls, visit:

www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/

86% of deaths from 

scaffolds occur in the 

construction industry2

2 US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Injuries/Illnesses and Fatal Injuries 

Profiles-Fatal Injuries Numbers. Date accessed: April 6, 2018. https://data.bls.gov/gqt/InitialPage

Some recommendations to 

prevent scaffold falls: 

Train and assign a person to supervise 

scaffold setup 

Place on stable ground/surface

Set up scaffolds per the manufacturer 

guidelines and Occupational Safety and

Health Administration standards

Use guardrails or a fall arrest system when 

more than 10 feet above a lower level

Inspect scaffolds and scaffold parts before 

each use

Ensure scaffolds are fully planked

Secure scaffold (e.g., lock wheels on mobile 

scaffolds)

Provide proper scaffold access

Read some of our 

FACE reports on scaffold falls: 

Municipal Lead Custodian Dies In Fall From Mobile Scaffolding (Report #11MA008)

A municipal custodian died while painting the inside of a school lobby. The custodian went to the school 

alone to finish painting. The custodian was on a mobile scaffold that was improperly set up, and he fell onto 

the lobby floor.

Construction Worker Died After Falling 20-25 Feet From a Pump-jack Scaffold (Report #15OR12)

An owner of a residential siding company sustained injuries when he fell from a pump-jack scaffold platform 

onto a concrete slab. While working on the scaffold, the owner was not wearing fall protection. The owner 

died the following day.

©diego_cervo, Getty Images
 Construction Falls Resources

NIOSH Construction Program

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/construction/

This website provides program goals and resources.

NIOSH FACE Program

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/

This website provides NIOSH FACE and State FACE reports.

NIOSH Falls in the Workplace

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/

This website provides information about projects and 

resources available to prevent work-related falls.

NIOSH FACE Program: A Five Year Look-Back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OONUcRmoaQQ

This video highlights the NIOSH FACE Program and the role 

the FACE states have in promoting the National Campaign 

to Prevent Falls in Construction.

 Stop Construction Falls Campaign 

 Websites and Materials

About the FACE Program

The National Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health’s (NIOSH) Fatality Assessment 

and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program, 

along with its State FACE partners, study fatal 

workplace injuries and prepare reports with 

recommendations to prevent similar deaths. 

This national research program aims to 

prevent job-related injuries and deaths by: 

• Investigating select deaths

• Identifying hazards

• Developing workplace prevention

recommendations

• Sharing recommendations with employers,

safety professionals, and workers

See our Fatality Assessment and Control 

Evaluation (FACE) Program flyer for more 

information.

Campaign Websites

https://stopconstructionfalls.com/

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction/stopfalls.html

https://www.osha.gov/stopfalls/

Get information to prevent falls and participate in the 

National Safety Stand-Down event.

Fall Prevention Fact Sheet

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2012-142/pdfs/2012-142.pdf

This fact sheet provides information to PLAN ahead to get 

the job done safely. PROVIDE the right equipment. TRAIN 

everyone to use the equipment safely.

Acknowledgments: The NIOSH FACE Program thanks the KY FACE, MA FACE, and OR FACE programs for their 

investigation reports that are highlighted in this fact sheet.

Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, citations to websites external to 

NIOSH do not constitute NIOSH endorsement of the sponsoring organizations or their programs or products. 

Furthermore, NIOSH is not responsible for the content of these websites. All web addresses referenced in this 

document were accessible as of the publication date. 

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2019-128 (revised 11/2019)

https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2019128revised112019

November 2019

Use these resources to prevent falls and keep construction workers safe on the job. 

 Ladder Resources

NIOSH Ladder Safety App

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/mobileapp.html

Download and use the free NIOSH Ladder Safety app to 

prevent extension and step-ladder fall injuries and deaths.

Ladder Safety: There’s an App for That

http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2013/08/27/laddersafety/

This NIOSH Science Blog shares information about 

development of the app and its use among workers.

Fatality 

Assessment 

and Control 

Evaluation

Program

FACE