How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 9,650 severe cases involving constructed surfaces over the past decade. Fractures are the most common injury type, accounting for 69% of all reported incidents. These injuries often require surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
The impact on your body is often severe, with the pelvic region being the most frequently affected area in 23% of cases. Because these injuries involve your skeletal system, your recovery process is frequently lengthy and costly.
How these injuries happen
Falls on the same level are the primary cause of injury, accounting for 93% of all reported incidents involving floors and walkways. These events occur when you encounter an unexpected hazard on a surface you expect to be stable. Whether it is a spill, an uneven transition, or a hidden obstruction, the sudden nature of these falls often leads to immediate and severe physical trauma.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall on same level | 8,926 |
| 2 | Other fall to lower level | 563 |
| 3 | Slip, trip, stumble on same level— without fall | 46 |
| 4 | Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment | 20 |
| 5 | Struck by falling object | 13 |
| 6 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 12 |
| 7 | Slip, trip, stumble or fall on same level— fall unspecified | 6 |
| 8 | Fall to lower level— unspecified | 5 |
Where injuries happen most
Health care leads all sectors with 21% of these injuries, as you frequently navigate busy environments while attending to patients. Retail trade follows closely at 20%, where high-traffic aisles and inventory management create constant exposure to floor hazards.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you performing routine tasks like walking, opening doors, or moving between areas when you suddenly lose your footing. Many incidents involve simple environmental hazards that were overlooked, leading to significant fractures of the knee, hip, or femur. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CO | Administrative Services | "An employee was picking up litter on the perimeter of the complex. He was outside the facility grounds by the railroad tracks when he tripped in the rocks and fell, striking his head and knees. The employee sustained a fractured knee." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was airing up a trailer tire in the gas station parking lot. When he stepped backward, he tripped over an elevated fuel riser and suffered a fractured right femur." | |
| 2025 | GA | Retail Trade | "An employee had been performing administrative duties in the office at the front of the store. She was opening the office door for a co-worker when she stumbled backward and fell on the floor. The employee sustained a fractured left hip." | |
| 2025 | AL | Manufacturing | "On July 31, 2025, an employee was walking when they fell on the concrete floor. The employee sustained a fractured right femur." | |
| 2025 | KS | Health Care | "An employee entered a resident's room at 8:13 p.m., and was passing medication to the patient when they slipped and fell to the floor. The employee was hospitalized with a knee injury that required surgery." | |
| 2025 | MA | Manufacturing | "The injured employee was engaged in a conversation with other employees. When the injured employee turned to walk away, she tripped over a pallet in the packing area and fell to the floor. The employee sustained a dislocated shoulder and a humeral head fracture." | |
| 2025 | DC | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was using a floor machine and chemical floor stripper to strip the finish from the floor. The employee slipped backward on the wet floor and landed on their back. The employee was hospitalized with chemical burns caused by the floor stripper." | |
| 2025 | NE | Health Care | "An employee fell on the floor while walking in the facility. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured right hip." | |
| 2025 | NY | Health Care | "A housekeeper was cleaning near an automatic door when she lost her balance and fell on the floor. She sustained a fractured hip." | |
| 2025 | NY | Health Care | "An employee was sitting with a client in a dental exam room. When she stood up at the end of the appointment, her foot got caught on a cord that operates the dental hand pieces, causing her to trip and fall to the floor on her right side. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured femur and required surgery." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Workers' Compensation generally covers injuries that occur during the course and scope of your employment. If you were performing work duties when you fell, you are likely entitled to benefits regardless of fault. An attorney can help you determine if your specific situation meets the criteria for a claim.
Employers are required to maintain walking-working surfaces in a safe condition under OSHA standards. If you were injured, evidence such as photos of the hazard, witness statements, and incident reports are vital to your case. An attorney can help you gather this evidence to challenge an employer's denial of your claim.
In most cases, Workers' Compensation is the exclusive remedy for workplace injuries, meaning you cannot sue your employer directly. However, if a third party was responsible for the hazard, you may have a separate personal injury claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your options to ensure you are pursuing the right path for your recovery.
A successful claim requires thorough medical documentation, including X-rays, surgical reports, and physician assessments of your recovery. These records establish the severity of your injury and the necessity of your treatment. An attorney can help you organize your medical records to ensure your claim is fully supported.