Elevation Falls Cost an Average of $106,000 per Claim!

Roofers, carpenters at risk for costliest injuries from falls

Falls from elevations by roofers cost an average of $106,000 per claim while falls by carpenters cost an average of $97,000 each. The numbers are included in a new presentation from OSHA.

The agency looked at data for injuries resulting from falls from elevations in the period of 2005 to 2007. It includes figures from 38 states, comprising approximately one-third of total workers’ comp benefits.

Roofing and carpentry workers regularly confront serious workplace hazards, according to OSHA. Among these workers, falls from heights comprise significant portions of injuries and costs.

The presentation includes these findings:

• The average cost of a fall from elevation for occupational classifications excluding roofers and carpenters was less than $50,000.
• Among insured roofers for the three most recent years available — policy years 2005-07 — in NCCI states, there were reports of 1,511 fall or slip injuries from elevations. The expected claims costs of falls from elevation by insured roofers in NCCI states averaged approximately $54 million per year.

Among insured employers in NCCI states during 2005-07 falls from ladders or scaffolds by roofers cost approximately $19 million per year while falls from ladders or scaffolds by carpenters cost approximately $64 million per year.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

Remember to work safe and have a great day!