Addressing fall protection for the construction industry

Falls remain the leading cause of death in construction¹, an industry that consistently ranks among the most dangerous in the United States. Falls account for more than one third of all fatalities in the construction industry², with more than 300 workers dying each year as a result of falls while performing routine job tasks³. Despite the largely preventable nature of these incidents, the construction industry has seen little measurable improvement in fall related deaths and serious injuries over the past decade.

This lack of progress underscores the need for greater focus on planning, education, training, and safer work methods. Recent survey results released by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) highlight several common underlying causes of fall incidents.³ The survey, which included workers who experienced, witnessed, or investigated falls, identified:

1. Inadequate pre task planning,
2. Poorly communicated or inconsistently enforced fall protection policies, and
3. Insufficient fall rescue training 

To help address these gaps, Nationwide Insurance developed the Construction Fall Protection Center featuring a detailed Fall Protection Guide. This resource is designed to assist construction employers in building or strengthening their fall protection programs by explaining basic regulatory requirements, outlining critical roles and responsibilities, and identifying recommended training elements. The guide also provides practical, turn key tools to help document training, conduct inspections, and implement both company wide and site specific fall protection plans.

Comprehensive fall prevention also means eliminating ladder use whenever feasible. Ladders continue to be a frequent contributing factor in construction fall injuries.  Recognizing this risk, Nationwide introduced the Ladder Alternative Program, which encourages the use of safer access solutions, such as scaffolding, lifts, platforms, and other engineered systems to help reduce fall-related injuries. By promoting equipment that incorporates guardrails, improved work positioning, and built in safety features, ladder alternatives align with a stronger hierarchy of controls and serve as a critical complement to overall fall protection strategies.

Together, Nationwide’s Fall Protection Guide and Ladder Alternative Program help address the very root causes identified by CPWR -improving planning, clarifying expectations, enhancing training, and selecting safer equipment for the task at hand. These resources are intended to raise awareness of the seriousness of fall hazards and, more importantly, to drive meaningful change on jobsites.

Reducing falls in construction requires commitment at every level of an organization, from leadership through field supervision and down to individual workers. Employers can take immediate steps by reviewing their fall protection programs, evaluating ladder use and task planning practices, and leveraging available tools and training resources.

Another effective way to demonstrate commitment to fall prevention is participation in the National Safety Stand Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, held each spring. The Stand Down provides an opportunity for employers to pause work, engage workers in fall safety discussions, and reinforce safe practices.

Visit Nationwide’s Construction Fall Protection Center to download the interactive Construction Fall Protection Guide and explore the Ladder Alternative Program to start strengthening your fall prevention efforts today.