How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 207 severe cases involving step ladders over the last two years. The vast majority of these incidents result in fractures, which often require surgery and extensive rehabilitation to address.
These injuries are particularly severe because they frequently involve trauma to the brain or chest. When you fall from a ladder, the impact often causes long-term musculoskeletal damage that can permanently alter your ability to perform physical labor.
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Check My BenefitsHow these injuries happen
Most injuries occur when you experience a fall to a lower level. This often happens when the ladder slips on an unstable surface, collapses under your weight, or is knocked over by external forces like falling equipment. These accidents are rarely simple mistakes, as they often stem from a lack of proper equipment inspection or failure to secure the ladder on a level, stable base.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other fall to lower level | 162 |
| 2 | Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment | 25 |
| 3 | Fall to lower level resulting from exposure or contact | 13 |
| 4 | Fall to lower level resulting in exposure or contact | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads all industries with 32% of reported step ladder incidents. The high-paced nature of construction sites, combined with frequent use of ladders on uneven ground, creates a high risk for falls. Retail trade follows with 21%, where you may use ladders in crowded aisles or while stocking heavy inventory, leading to frequent balance-related accidents.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents include ladders slipping on slick floors, structural failure during routine tasks, and secondary falls caused by falling objects striking you. These reports show that even short falls can lead to life-altering injuries like broken vertebrae or concussions. 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 | IL | Manufacturing | "An employee was climbing an A-frame ladder to clear a jam in an overhead conveyance. The employee fell from the ladder to the plant floor and sustained fractured ribs." | |
| 2025 | MD | Construction | "An employee was on an A-frame ladder while preforming demolition of a ceiling. A section of HVAC ductwork fell on the employee and knocked them to the ground approximately 12 feet below. The employee was hospitalized with a concussion and lacerations." | |
| 2025 | IL | Retail Trade | "An employee was stocking product in a cooler. While stepping down the last step of a three-step stool, the employee lost footing and fell backward, landing on her tailbone. Her L1 vertebra was fractured." | |
| 2025 | TX | Manufacturing | "On July 21, 2025, an employee was working from a 10-foot step ladder while installing a 3-by-5-foot glass window pane on the outside of a new home under construction. The window fell from the frame and the employee went to catch it when the ladder slipped. The employee fell 5 feet to the ground and landed on small pieces of concrete left over from the foundation pour. The employee was hospitalized with a dislocated elbow and fractured wrist that required surgery." | |
| 2025 | PA | Administrative Services | "An employee was standing on a two-step stool to repair a dumpster. While descending the stool, the employee lost balance and fell to the floor resulting in a broken leg. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | OH | Finance & Insurance | "An employee was working from a step ladder while cleaning lights when they fell, resulting in a broken wrist and an injured knee and ankle. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | WI | Construction | "An employee was installing ductwork overhead from a 10-foot stepladder. While the employee was making a connection, pressure from an adjacent rough-studded wall caused the ladder to tip out from under the employee. The employee fell 6 feet to the floor and suffered a broken femur." | |
| 2025 | WI | Construction | "On July 11, 2025, at approximately 11:30 AM, an employee was on the fourth step of an 6-foot step ladder, manually pulling wire. He encountered resistance and the connection to the tape came loose. He lost his balance and fell to the floor, sustaining a fractured pelvis." | |
| 2025 | LA | Retail Trade | "An employee lost her footing while descending a three-step ladder. She fell to the floor about 30 inches below. She suffered a broken left tibia." | |
| 2025 | TX | Public Administration | "Employees were troubleshooting dual duct detectors in a room. The injured employee was on the second rung from the top of a forward-facing 12-foot A-frame ladder. He was reinstalling the duct detector in the furthest duct from him (18 inches). When he pushed the duct detector into the existing holes, the duct broke free and fell, striking his back and shoulders. He was knocked forward over the ladder and fell to the floor. The employee sustained a head injury." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.