How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 534 severe incidents involving natural surfaces over the past decade. Fractures account for 66% of these cases, representing the most common and debilitating injury type you may face.
These incidents frequently result in significant trauma to your lower extremities. Injuries to your lower legs and ankles are the most common, often requiring extensive medical intervention and long-term recovery periods.
How these injuries happen
Most injuries involving natural surfaces occur during your routine movement across uneven terrain. Falls on the same level account for 85% of all reported incidents, often triggered by loose gravel, damp grass, or unexpected slopes. When you traverse embankments or rocky ledges, the risk of losing your balance increases, frequently leading to high-impact falls that cause severe bone fractures.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall on same level | 441 |
| 2 | Other fall to lower level | 68 |
| 3 | Slip, trip, stumble on same level— without fall | 5 |
| 4 | Fall to lower level resulting from exposure or contact | 2 |
| 5 | Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment | 2 |
| 6 | Struck against stationary object | 1 |
| 7 | Indirect exposure to electricity | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads all industries with 19% of reported incidents, as you frequently navigate undeveloped land and unstable ground. Arts and Entertainment follows at 16%, where you often work on outdoor sets or uneven performance venues. These environments require your employer to identify terrain hazards and ensure safe pathways for you.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you navigating slopes, embankments, or loose debris while performing routine tasks. Many incidents occur when you lose your footing on damp grass or shifts in gravel, leading to a fall that results in immediate, severe injury. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you understand your legal options.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | AL | Professional Services | "An employee was walking on gravel next to railroad tracks to locate underground utility lines when he slipped on loose rocks and rolled down the incline/slope. The employee was hospitalized with a possible neck injury." | |
| 2025 | MO | Manufacturing | "An employee was walking from one chicken house to another when he slipped on tall, damp grass and fell to the sloped ground landing on his back and neck. The employee sustained a neck injury that required surgery." | |
| 2025 | AR | Arts & Entertainment | "An employee was cutting up a large tree that had blown down on a rocky ledge on a hill. He began cutting on the uphill side of the tree, but due to obstructions he had to move to the downhill side. The tree separated from its 7-foot root ball, which started sliding toward him. While attempting to get out of the way, he tripped and fell to the ground, striking his head on an unknown object. As the root ball continued to move toward the employee, he made it below the level of the rock ledge. The root ball rolled over when it reached the ledge and pinned the employee's lower leg, and broke his fibula. He also suffered scrapes and bruises from the fall." | |
| 2025 | WI | Health Care | "An employee was pushing a lawn mower on a slope when he slipped and his left foot went under the mower deck and contacted the blade. The employee sustained an amputation of the first toe." | |
| 2025 | IL | Construction | "An employee was pulling a 1-inch hose into position. He stepped down a small embankment (about 18 inches in height), lost his balance, and fell on the ground. The employee sustained two fractures to his left leg, requiring hospitalization and surgery." | |
| 2025 | CO | Other Services | "At 11:05 a.m., an employee was retrieving screws and a duct puller from their van at a jobsite. After getting the materials, they closed the side door and locked it, and then began to head back to the work area. They then stepped on a sprinkler pipe approximately 14 inches away from the side of their vehicle. The employee fell to the ground and suffered a broken right fibula and tibia, resulting in hospitalization." | |
| 2025 | GA | Administrative Services | "An employee was walking toward a lawn mower to supply fuel to the operator. The employee lost their footing on a slope and slipped. Their right foot slid under the mower deck and contacted the blade. The third, fourth, and fifth toes were surgically amputated." | |
| 2025 | OH | Construction | "An employee was walking down a steep embankment when they slipped and fell to the ground surface. The employee sustained a dislocated left shoulder and a fractured left humerus." | |
| 2025 | AL | Construction | "An employee was walking down a gravel path when he tripped and fell to the ground. He suffered a broken right ankle." | |
| 2025 | MA | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee finished her afternoon shift and was walking to her car on the gravel/dirt/grass walking surface. As she approached the exit gate, she tripped/stumbled and fell onto a nearby fence and the ground. The employee sustained fractures to collarbones or rotator cuffs on each side of her shoulder(s)." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Workers' Compensation is designed to cover your medical expenses and lost wages for injuries sustained during the course of your employment, regardless of the surface involved. If you were performing work duties when you fell, your injury is generally compensable. An attorney can help you navigate the claims process to ensure your medical bills are covered.
Your employer has a duty to provide a safe workplace, which includes maintaining safe walking surfaces even in outdoor areas. If your employer failed to address known hazards like unstable embankments or failed to provide proper training for navigating difficult terrain, they may be held accountable. An attorney can evaluate whether your employer met their safety obligations.
Seek immediate medical attention and report the incident to your supervisor as soon as possible. Document the exact conditions of the ground where you fell, including any loose rocks or debris that contributed to your accident. Consulting with an attorney early can help you preserve this evidence and protect your right to benefits.
Recovery times for fractures vary significantly based on the severity of your break and the body part affected. You may require surgery, physical therapy, and extended time away from your job to fully heal. An attorney can help ensure your claim accounts for both your immediate medical needs and any long-term recovery requirements.