The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program (English, Español) and State FACE Programs study fatal workplace injuries and prepare reports with recommendations to prevent similar deaths. The page shares FACE reports related to falls in construction.
CPWR Construction Database of Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program Reports (English): In order to efficiently explore specific information in the FACE reports for the construction industry, the Construction FACE Database was developed using all NIOSH and State FACE reports in construction posted to the NIOSH FACE website as of June 30, 2015.
Featured FACE Reports
Carpenter Dies After Fall from 6-Foot Ladder — Kentucky (English)
On August 9, 2023, a 52-year-old carpenter and his coworker were obtaining measurements in preparation for a plywood installation project in a restaurant being constructed. His ladder overturned and he fell and struck the concrete surface below.
Hispanic Worker Falls from Residential Roof – North Carolina (English)
A 37-year-old Hispanic male laborer fell approximately 13.5 feet from a residential roof to a concrete driveway. He died immediately from his injuries. The laborer was working with a crew of eight Hispanic workers for a construction subcontractor replacing shingles on a roof accessed by a ladder.
An HVAC Contractor Dies When He Falls Through a Skylight — California (English)
An HVAC contractor was working alone inspecting an air conditioning unit on a flat roof of a converted warehouse when he fell through an unguarded skylight to the concrete floor below. He died 19 days later from his injuries. The skylight did not have any protective screen or guarding mechanism at the time of the incident.
NIOSH FACE Reports and Products Related to Falls in Construction
All products are in English unless noted as “Español.”
- National
– Prevent Construction Falls From Roofs, Ladders, and Scaffolds - Alabama
– Fourteen-Year-Old Laborer Dies After Falling Through a Skylight - California
– Preventing Falls Through Skylights Video – English, Español
– A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor dies when he falls through a skylight
– Two Older Workers Die When they Fall From Ladders
– Solar company owner dies when he falls through skylight
– Custodian dies when he falls off a step ladder
– A Day Laborer Dies When He Falls from a Scaffold
– A House Painter Dies When He Falls Through a Roof Opening
– A Roofing Supervisor Dies When He Falls Through a Skylight
– A Plumber Dies When He Falls from the Second Floor of a Building after Stepping on Unsupported Plywood Formwork
– Laborer Dies When He Falls 35 Feet From a Scaffold After Being Electrocuted - Connecticut
– Seventeen Year Old Female Laborer Falls From Residential Roof and Dies Nine Days Later - Florida
– Fifteen-Year-Old Laborer Dies After Falling Through a Skylight - Iowa
– Construction Laborers Fell From Ladder - Kentucky
– KY FACE: Protecting Our Workers Video – English
– Carpenter dies after fall from 6-foot ladder
– Roofing worker dies from fall
– Demolition Laborer Dies in Fall Through Skylight
– Roofing Contractor Dies after Falling through Skylight
– Project Manager Dies after Falling through Skylight
– Commercial roofer falls 30 feet through a skylight while installing roof insulation
– Temporary electrician helper steps into unguarded elevator shaft and dies
– Production supervisor falls 19.5 feet through a metal roof and dies
– Gutter installer dies after falling from roof.
– Hispanic Roofers Fall Protection Failed Causing Him to Fall 29.91 Feet to his Death
– A 53-Year-Old Male Iron Foreman Dies After Fall From Steel Decking
– A Metal Fabrication and Finishing Foreman Dies After 25 Foot Fall at a Commercial Building Site
– Laborer Falls 55 to 75 Feet to the Ground While Spray Painting Grain Bins
– Roofer Dies After Gust of Wind Knocks Him And A Co-Worker Off Roof
– Hispanic Laborer Killed When Struck By Falling Plywood on a Commercial Construction Site
– Steel Worker Falls from High Bridge and Dies
– Dry Wall Supervisor Falls From Unsecured Plank - Massachusetts
– MA FACE: Protecting Our Workers Video – English
– Laborer fatally injured after falling from a home under construction
– Municipal public works foreman dies after falling from a dump truck
– Carpenter fatally injured after falling from an extension ladder
– Laborer injured in a fall when a portable platform ladder overturned
– Collecting Union Status for the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries: A Massachusetts Case Study
– Fatal Injuries at Work, Massachusetts Fatality Update 2016-2017
– Temporary Worker Fell from a Fixed Ladder inside a Building Being Renovated
– Municipal Electrician Dies after Falling out of an Aerial Lift Truck’s Raised Bucket after It Was Struck by a Semi-Tractor Trailer
– Municipal Lead Custodian Dies in Fall from Mobile Scaffolding
– Carpenter Fell from the Roof of a Single Family Home Under Construction
– Fatal Falls Among Massachusetts Construction Workers - Michigan
– Ironworker Fell 25 Feet While Working From/Relocating a Ladder in a Shaft way
– Plasterer/drywall installer dies from 30-foot fall through skylight
– Construction foreman/carpenter dies from complications from fall from roof
– MI FACE Hazard Alert – Falls
– Painter Died When Elevated Scissor Lift Tipped to Side When Tire Entered Pavement Depression
– Falls From Scaffolds can be Prevented
– Carpenter Died from Extension Ladder Fall
– Construction Firm Owner Dies From Fall From 8-Foot Step Ladder Or Overhead Platform
– Sole Proprietor Falls Eight Feet from Flat Roof While Installing Siding - New Jersey
– NJ FACE Assessing Barriers to the Use of Fall Protection in Small Residential Construction Companies in New Jersey (2015) – Marija Borjan, Toral Patel, Daniel Lefkowitz, Carla Campbell, Margaret Lumia
– Roofer Killed After Falling From a Ladder Lowered From a School Roof
– NIOSH-Funded Program and Stakeholders Work to Prevent Falls from Temporary Wooden Platforms on Bridge Decks
– Laborer Dies after Falling Through 40-Foot High Roof of Recycling Facility
– Construction Laborer Dies After Falling Through Temporary Bridge “Catch” Platform, 75 Feet To Ground
– Two Construction Workers Fall to Their Death through Temporary Wooden Bridge Platforms - New York
– NY FACE Hazard Alert: Roofing Work Can Be Deadly
– Tower Technician Killed When Guyed Tower Collapsed
– Master Stonemason Dies in a 30-foot Fall From a Handmade Work Platform Attached to a Powered Industrial Truck - North Carolina
– Hispanic worker falls from residential roof
– Hispanic worker dies after fall from step-ladder while cleaning windows
– Hispanic Laborer Dies after Falling through a Second Story Floor Opening in a Single Family Home under Construction
– Hispanic Worker Dies After Falling From a Pile of Construction Debris in the Bed of a Trash-Style Body Truck to a Paved Driveway Below
– Hispanic Construction Laborer Dies and Two Coworkers Are Injured After Falling 10 Feet From an Unsecured Box on the Forks of a Forklift - Oregon
– Oregon FACE: Protecting Our Workers Video – English
– Vineyard worker killed in fall from trailer
– Construction Worker Died After Falling 20-25 Feet From a Pump-Jack Scaffold - South Carolina
– Sixteen-Year-Old Hispanic Youth Dies After Falling From A Job-Made Elevated Work Platform During Construction - Washington
– Washington FACE: Protecting Our Workers Video – English
– Inexperienced framer falls 22 feet from upper floor – English. Fatality narrative as slideshow – English
– Carpenter Falls from Ladder – English, Español. Fatality Narrative as a Slideshow – English, Español.
– Construction Worker Falls 14 Feet from a Beam onto Concrete and Suffers Serious Brain Injury – English, Español. Fatality Narrative as a Slideshow – English, Español
– Roofer Falls 30 Feet From Rain Slick Roof – English, Español. Fatality narrative as slideshow – English, Español
– Roofer Falls 18 Feet From Wet House Roof – English, Español. Fatality narrative as slideshow – English, Español
– Glazier Foreman Falls from Stepladder – English, Español. Fatality Narrative as Slideshow – English, Español
– Siding Contractor Falls 23 Feet from Balcony – Español. Fatality Narrative as Slideshow – Español
– Roofer Falls 19 Feet from Roof – English, Español. Fatality Narrative as Slideshow – English, Español
– Roofing Contractor Falls 25 Feet from Church Roof – English, Español. Fatality Narrative as Slideshow – English, Español
– Roofing Contractor Falls 35 Feet from Roof – English, Español. Fatality Narrative as Slideshow – English, Español
– Ironworker Falls from Scaffold – Español. Fatality Narrative as Slideshow – Español
– Carpenter Falls from Beam – English, Español. Fatality Narrative as Slideshow – English, Español
– HVAC Technician Falls Through Skylight – Español. Fatality Narrative as Slideshow – Español
– Operator Falls from Boom Lift while Tree Trimming
– Framer Setting Roof Truss Falls 20 Feet; Fatality narrative as slideshow
– Ironworker Falls 80 Feet Through Bent Plate Gap
– Roofing Foreman Falls 19 Feet From Extension Ladder; Fatality narrative as slideshow
– Roofer Falls 30 Feet Through Skylight; Fatality narrative as slideshow
– Construction Worker Falls 14 Feet from a Beam onto Concrete and Suffers Serious Brain Injury; Fatality Narrative as slide show
– Roofer Falls 20 Feet from Roof; Fatality Narrative as slide show
– Roofer Dies After Falling from Ladder or Roof
– Painter Falls from Stepladder
– Laborer Falls Through Roof Opening; Fatality Narrative as slideshow
– Carpet Installer Dies After Falling 30 Feet at a Commercial Job Site - West Virginia
– Two Tower Climbers Fatally Injured When a Cellular Tower Collapsed While Performing Tower Upgrades