How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,631 severe cases involving roofs over the last decade. Fractures are the most common injury, accounting for 64% of all reported incidents. These injuries are rarely minor, often requiring extensive surgery and long-term rehabilitation.
The severity of these incidents is reflected in the high frequency of injuries to the brain, which account for 6% of reported cases.
How these injuries happen
Falls to lower levels are the primary driver of these injuries, accounting for 90% of all reported incidents. You are often injured when you lose your footing on steep surfaces, trip over materials left on the roof, or fall while transitioning to or from a ladder. In other instances, the structure itself fails, leading to sudden collapses that leave you with no way to catch yourself.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other fall to lower level | 1,461 |
| 2 | Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment | 74 |
| 3 | Fall on same level | 50 |
| 4 | Fall to lower level— unspecified | 12 |
| 5 | Fall to lower level resulting from exposure or contact | 7 |
| 6 | Collapse, engulfment— building or structure | 5 |
| 7 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 1 |
| 8 | Fall to lower level resulting in exposure or contact | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction accounts for 77% of all roof-related incidents. This high volume is driven by the constant exposure to heights and the physical demands of roofing tasks. Your employer has a strict duty to provide fall protection systems, yet many incidents occur because guardrails were missing or safety harnesses were not properly utilized.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you falling while installing fall protection, losing balance when exiting a roof, or suffering from structural collapses during detail work. These incidents often highlight a failure to maintain safety nets or ensure that harnesses are properly secured. 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 contributed to your injury.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | KY | Construction | "An employee was installing a fall protection system on a flat roof when they tripped and became entangled in the warning line. They fell approximately 30 feet to the ground below. The employee sustained fractures." | |
| 2025 | IL | Construction | "An employee was preparing to come down from a roof. He disconnected his harness from the rope to exit the roof and then lost his footing and fell to the ground. The employee sustained broken bones in their right arm above the elbow. " | |
| 2025 | IL | Construction | "On July 29, 2025, two sheet metal workers were performing detail work on the perimeter coping of a roof. At approximately 9:30 AM, one of the employees was attempting to get on the ladder on the south side of the roof when he fell approximately 20 feet to the pavement. The employee sustained fractures to his skull and pelvis." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "Two employees were adding a guardrail around the work area when they fell approximately 10-11 feet off the building to the ground below. One employee sustained fractures to the face and spine, resulting in paralysis from the chest down. Another employee sustained a fractured left arm. The employees were not wearing fall protection at the time and a safety net was not utilized. " | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee climbed out a window onto the roof, slipped and fell 12 feet from the roof to the ground. The employee sustained a broken wrist and a head laceration." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was on a rooftop, supervising the lifting of a 30' x 30' structure manufactured from I-beams. The employee was knocked to the ground and the suspended load settled on them. The employee sustained a head injury, loss of an eye, and fractured ribs." | |
| 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 | NY | Construction | "An employee was on a second-story ladder painting fascia wood on the front of a home. The employee stepped off the roof edge and fell about 8 feet onto a mulch bed on the ground, landing on his left side. The employee sustained fractures to his ribs on both sides, as well as his collarbone." | |
| 2025 | OH | Construction | "Employees were performing tear-off on a commercial roof. The injured employee was cleaning debris off the partially repaired roof when he fell through the roof to the concrete floor 15-16 feet below. He landed on his lower back, resulting in several fractures to his lumbar vertebrae." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "On July 21, 2025, an employee was working on a roof when they fell 9 feet onto a metal roof below, resulting in hospitalization for a lacerated tendon in their leg and three fractured lumbar vertebrae. The employee was wearing fall protection but was not secured to an anchor point at the time of the incident." |
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, accounting for 64% of cases. You may also suffer from intracranial injuries, which account for 6% of reported incidents. An attorney can help you document these injuries to ensure your medical needs are fully addressed in your claim.
Employers are required to follow strict OSHA fall protection standards, including the use of guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems. If your employer failed to provide these protections or ignored safety protocols, they may be held accountable for your injuries. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer met these legal requirements.
Workers' Compensation typically covers your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and a portion of your lost wages while you recover. If your injury is permanent, you may also be entitled to disability benefits. An attorney can help you verify that you are receiving the full amount of compensation you are owed.
While you can file a claim on your own, insurance companies often look for ways to minimize payouts or deny responsibility. An attorney can gather evidence, handle communication with insurers, and ensure your rights are protected throughout the process. An attorney can help you navigate complex Workers' Compensation laws.