How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 935 severe cases involving falls from collapsing structures over the last decade. Fractures are the most common injury, accounting for 65% of all reported incidents in this category.
When a structure fails, you often suffer life-altering injuries that require extensive medical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.
Common injuries
Falls from collapsing structures typically occur when essential equipment fails to support you. Scaffolds and staging are the primary sources of these incidents, accounting for 20% of all reported cases, while portable ladders and stairs account for another 20%. Whether a support beam gives way, a ladder slips on an unstable surface, or a scissor lift tips over, these events often stem from a failure to maintain equipment or provide stable working platforms.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fractures | 593 |
| 2 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 89 |
| 3 | Severe wounds or internal injuries and other injuries | 51 |
| 4 | Intracranial Injuries | 43 |
| 5 | Injuries to internal organs and major blood vessels | 37 |
| 6 | Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries | 23 |
| 7 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 17 |
| 8 | Injuries to the brain, spinal cord and other injuries | 13 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads all sectors, accounting for 50% of these severe incidents. Manufacturing follows as a high-risk industry, accounting for 11% of cases, where you may operate from elevated platforms or lifts that require rigorous safety inspections to prevent sudden collapses.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents include the sudden failure of support beams, ladders slipping on uneven ground, and heavy equipment like scissor lifts tipping during operation. These reports show that structural integrity is often compromised by missing components or improper setup. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine if employer negligence played a role.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | OK | Construction | "An employee accessed a fixed (permanent) platform and a support beam failed causing him to fall through the grating approximately 8 feet to the ground level. Part of the platform structure also fell. The employee sustained fractures to his ribs and pelvis." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Information | "An employee was working on a ladder that was placed on a paved driveway at the side of a house. The ladder slipped out from under him and he fell to the ground, sustaining fractures to his right elbow and left wrist." | |
| 2025 | NY | Manufacturing | "An employee's leg went through a part of the floor that was missing a floor tile and he sustained a dislocated shoulder while catching himself." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee was coming down from the upper deck using a ladder when the ladder collapsed and the employee fell to the ground. The employee sustained fractures to an elbow and rib. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | NY | Information | "An employee was working from a raised scissor lift to fix an overhead garage door. The lift tipped over and the employee fell to the concrete floor about 18-20 feet below. The employee suffered a head injury, broken ribs, and a broken pelvis." | |
| 2025 | MO | Manufacturing | "An employee was cleaning the brine tank and went to activate the dumper switch, which was down and around a corner from where he was positioned. The employee reached down and around to flip the switch. The movable stairs he was on then became unsteady and overturned. He fell to the ground and sustained fractures to his wrist, femur, hip, and pelvis. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | PA | Retail Trade | "An employee was on a 6-foot ladder working to adjust a camera system around the ceiling tile. The ladder buckled and the employee fell to the floor, sustaining a laceration to his head and a compression fracture to his lower back. The employee was hospitalized and required staples for the laceration." | |
| 2025 | GA | Construction | "An employee was power washing the roof in preparation for installing a roof coating. The employee stepped on a translucent skylight panel on the roof and fell through the panel, landing approximately 15 feet below. The employee sustained brain swelling and fractured ribs." | |
| 2025 | FL | Manufacturing | "An employee was going up a ladder from the first level roof to the second level roof. The ladder slipped and the employee fell approximately 8 to 10 feet to the surface on the first level. The employee sustained fractures to three ribs and bruises on their arms and hands." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was on a scaffold installing masonry veneer when a plank on the scaffolding fell from its supports, causing the employee to fall approximately 13 feet to the ground below. The employee sustained fractured ribs and a punctured lung." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Fractures are the most frequent injury, occurring in 65% of these cases. You may sustain severe damage to your pelvis, ribs, and extremities due to the force of the fall and the impact of the collapsing structure. An attorney can help you document these injuries to ensure your medical needs are fully addressed in your claim.
Employers are required to provide safe equipment and ensure it is properly maintained and inspected. If a structure failed because it was improperly assembled, damaged, or overloaded, your employer may be liable for your injuries. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer violated OSHA safety standards to strengthen your Workers' Compensation claim.
Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries, as internal trauma and fractures often require urgent care. Report the incident to your supervisor in writing as soon as possible to create an official record of the event. An attorney can help you protect your rights and ensure all necessary evidence is preserved.
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical expenses and lost wages for injuries sustained on the job, regardless of who was at fault. Because these falls often involve complex equipment failures, you may also have grounds for a third-party claim if the equipment was defective. An attorney can help you evaluate your situation to determine if you are eligible for additional compensation beyond standard benefits.