The danger in working at height: 1 in 9 fatal accidents is due to falls from height

Falls while working at height represent a constant threat in the world of work, a danger that persists and takes its toll alarmingly. Every year, hundreds of workers are involved in Serious accidents involving falls from elevated locations, and, in some cases, these tragic incidents cost them their lives. In Spain, this worrying reality is manifested with strong figures: One in nine fatal accidents in the workplace is the result of a fall from height.

The Statistics of Accidents at Work (EAT) of the Ministry of Labour is responsible for compiling and analysing data related to occupational accidents in our country. In 2022, this statistic recorded a total of 73 falls from height that had a fatal outcome.

1 fatal fall every 5 days

Diving even deeper into these troubling statistics, we can observe that, on average, there was almost one fatal accident every day during the past year, adding a total of 679 tragedies in the workplace. However, in the case of falls from height with fatal consequences, the figure is especially shocking: a life lost every five days due to this type of accident.

In terms of total accidents related to falls from height, the year 2022 yielded an alarming number of 26,115 incidents, which equates to an average of more than 71 falls from height per day. These figures underscore the urgent need to provide training in occupational risk prevention for workers, with the aim of avoiding this type of accident.

More than two serious falls from height every day

The picture becomes even more disturbing when we enter the category of serious accidents related to falls from height. According to EAT data, in 2022 there were a total of 775 serious incidents.

Serious accidents are defined bysevere injuries that they cause to workers. The figure of 775 shows an average of more than two of these accidents every day, an alarming trend.

In the general context of serious accidents in the workplace during that period, 3,801 incidents were counted, which means that more than 20% of them were attributable to falls from height. In other words, about one in five serious accidents at work originated from these types of circumstances. This underlines the importance of addressing safety at height and the need for effective preventive measures.

The worrying trend of fatal accidents due to falls from height

When analysing the figures on a year-on-year basis, we can see a worrying trend. In the full year of 2021, a total of 612 fatal occupational accidents, of which 78 were due to falls from height.

The first conclusion we can draw from these data is the growing trend of fatal accidents at work. In 2022, there were more fatal workplace accidents (679) than in 2021. If in 2021 we had an average of 51 fatal accidents at work per month, in 2022 that figure rose to 56.58. The An increase in the number of people who died while carrying out their work is never encouraging news.

On the other hand, the trend of fatal falls from height remained at similar levels from one year to the next. The 73 deaths in 2022 represent an approximate average of 6 fatal falls from heights per month. By comparison, the average of the 78 fatalities in 2021 was 6.5 employees killed by falls from heights each month. Although slightly higher, this figure remained relatively constant from one year to the next.

These figures are an urgent wake-up call for safety in the workplace in Spain. It is essential that companies and authorities work together to implement preventive measures and training programs that reduce the incidence of accidents due to falls from heights and, ultimately, protect the lives of workers. The Prevention is key to changing this reality and ensuring that workers return home safely every day.

Small lifting platforms: a safe solution to solve the dangers of working at height

In this context, it is important to mention that low-rise lifting platforms have proven to be an efficient solution to mitigate the risks associated with working at height in many industries. These small platforms, designed specifically for lower-altitude tasks, offer a Safe and versatile alternative to traditional ladders and scaffolding. Its use provides workers with a stable platform from which to carry out their work, significantly reducing the risk of falls and accidents. In addition, low-rise lifting platforms are easily transportable and can be used in confined spaces, making them an essential tool for Ensure Safety in a wide variety of work situations. Investment in equipment of this type can make all the difference in the prevention of accidents and in the protection of the lives of workers who face tasks at height.

At Liftisa we promote safety in work at height

At Liftisa we are committed to safety in the workplace. Through our Small Boom Lift Rental, we want to play a key role in reducing accidents related to falls from height in work environments. We believe that Prevention is essential And, by providing safe and efficient access at low heights, we are actively working to help companies create a safer work environment and protect the health of their workers. Our goal: ZERO accidents.