Cost of Injuries

Injuries from ladder and stairway accidents have high costs for both the employer and the employee involved in the incident. Slips and falls are the leading cause of workers' compensation claims, accounting for 12-15 percent of all expenses. It is estimated that slip and fall accidents cost employers $40,000 per incident, and the overall compensation and medical costs associated with slips and falls is approximately $70 billion annually. Injuries also lead to higher insurance premiums for the company.

When employees are injured, there are also indirect costs to the employer, including:

• Wage costs related to time lost through work stoppage
• Wages paid to injured workers for absences not covered by workers' compensation
• Administrative time spent by supervisors after there has been an injury
• Costs for training replacement employees

The injured employee can also suffer from financial, physical, and mental costs, including the following:

• Lost wages for missed work
• Out-of-pocket medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Temporary or permanent disability
• Reduced quality of life
• Depression

The combined costs for workplace injuries are far too high to ignore the need for ladder and stairway safety training.

To learn more about Ladder & Stairway Safety visit our Ladder & Stairway Safety Online Training web page.