Fall Protection Costs $200 Per Worker. A Fall Costs $42,000.

Falls remain the leading cause of death in residential construction. In 2023, falls accounted for 36.4% of all construction fatalities — a number that has barely moved in a decade despite billions spent on safety training.¹

The disconnect between the cost of prevention and the cost of a fall is staggering. A complete fall protection kit — harness, lanyard, roof anchor — costs between $150 and $250 per worker. The average workers' compensation claim for a fall from height: $42,000. The average fatality settlement: $1.2 million.²

The numbers

OSHA's most recent analysis of residential construction falls reveals a pattern that should alarm every contractor. 78% of fatal falls in residential construction occur at heights under 25 feet — the range where many contractors assume the risk is manageable.³

The most common fall scenarios are also the most preventable: roof edges without guardrails, unprotected floor openings, and improper ladder use. These aren't complex engineering problems. They're equipment and compliance problems.⁴