Falls account for 559600 nonfatal occupational injuries that require days away from work in the United States. The figure represents 27 percent of all such incidents. Children under 5 make 2.8 million fall related emergency room visits each year.
Key Takeaways
- Children under 5 experience 2.8 million fall-related ER visits annually in the US.
- Playground falls cause 20% of all child injuries, 115,000 hospitalizations yearly.
- Toddlers 12-23 months have highest slip rate at home, 450,000 cases annually.
- Slip and falls cost US employers $11.7 billion in workers' compensation in 2021.
- Average cost per slip/trip/fall workers' comp claim: $28,654 in private industry 2022.
- Fall fatalities cost society $171 billion annually in medical and productivity losses.
- Adults aged 65+ experience 3 million emergency department visits from falls annually in the US.
- 36,500 older adults die from falls each year, making it the leading cause of injury death for those 65+.
- Among seniors, 1 in 4 falls every year, with 95% of hip fractures from falls.
- In US homes, falls cause over 8 million emergency department visits annually, with 39% occurring in bathrooms.
- Stairs account for 34% of all home fall injuries among adults over 65, leading to 1.2 million ER visits yearly.
- Wet floors in kitchens caused 1.1 million slip injuries in residences from 2019-2022.
- In 2022, slips, trips, and falls accounted for 27% of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in the United States, totaling 559,600 cases.
- Private industry sector reported 242,420 slip-related injuries in 2021, with an incidence rate of 20.4 per 10,000 full-time workers.
- In construction, falls to a lower level caused 38% of all construction fatalities in 2022, amounting to 388 deaths.
Falls drive major child and senior ER visits and huge economic losses, showing prevention saves lives and money.
Related reading
01 · Category
Children and Youth26 stats
01
Children under 5 experience 2.8 million fall-related ER visits annually in the US.
02
Playground falls cause 20% of all child injuries, 115,000 hospitalizations yearly.
03
Toddlers 12-23 months have highest slip rate at home, 450,000 cases annually.
04
Stairs falls account for 27% of infant injuries under 1 year, 180,000 ER visits.
05
Boys aged 10-14 suffer 1.5x more sports-related falls than girls, 250,000 cases.
06
Bicycle falls without helmet: 400,000 head injuries in kids 5-14 yearly.
07
Schoolyard trips: 98,000 fractures in elementary students annually.
08
Baby walkers cause 230,000 injuries 1990-2014, mostly falls down stairs.
09
Skateboard falls lead to 70,000 ER visits for 6-12 year olds yearly.
10
Trampoline falls injure 100,000 children under 16 annually.
11
High chairs slips: 9,400 injuries in infants yearly.
12
Changing table falls: 3,200 head injuries under 1 year.
13
Bunk bed falls: 36,000 injuries in 5-9 year olds annually.
14
Window falls from homes: 5,100 serious pediatric injuries yearly.
15
Bathtub drowning/slips combo: 350 infant injuries monthly.
16
Shopping cart falls: 20,000 child injuries annually.
17
Monkey bars falls: 40% of playground fractures, 23,000 cases.
18
Rollerblading trips: 28,000 ER visits for 10-14 year olds.
19
Crib falls after climbing out: 12,000 injuries 1-2 year olds.
20
Poolside slips: 6,500 child injuries leading to drownings.
21
Treehouse falls: 1,200 serious youth injuries yearly.
22
Soccer field trips: 75,000 ankle sprains in 6-12 year olds.
23
Playground slides: 360,000 falls, 50% head injuries.
24
Bat swings falls: 15,000 baseball youth injuries.
25
Dance class slips: 8,900 injuries in girls 8-14.
26
Ice skating rink falls: 22,000 pediatric ER visits winterly.
Interpretation
Children and Youth Interpretation
This deluge of data, from changing tables to shopping carts, paints a clear and urgent picture: childhood is a high-stakes obstacle course designed by a mischievous giant who forgot to install handrails.
02 · Category
Economic and Cost Impacts27 stats
01
Slip and falls cost US employers $11.7 billion in workers' compensation in 2021.
02
Average cost per slip/trip/fall workers' comp claim: $28,654in private industry 2022.
03
Fall fatalities cost society $171 billion annually in medical and productivity losses.
04
Elderly fall hip fractures cost Medicare $8.9 billion yearly in first-year expenses.
05
Workplace fall injuries lead to 27% of OSHA citations, fines totaling $50 million yearly.
06
Construction fall costs per fatality: $12 million including indirect losses.
07
Retail slip claims average $30,000per incident due to litigation.
08
Home fall medical bills average $30,000for hospitalized seniors.
09
Lost productivity from falls: 10.7 million workdays annually, $2.1 billion wages.
10
Slip-resistant footwear ROI: 67% reduction in claims, saving $1.2 million per 1,000 workers.
11
Total societal cost of child falls: $95 billion yearly including long-term care.
12
OSHA fall protection violations: $14.5 million fines in 2022 alone.
13
Average hospital stay for fall fracture: 6.3 days, costing $22,000.
14
Insurance premiums rise 25% for high fall-risk industries, adding $5 billion sector-wide.
15
Preventative home grab bars save $2,700per avoided elderly fall.
16
Litigation from public slips: $3 billion annual payouts in US.
17
Fall-related disability pensions: $4.8 billion yearly for workers.
18
Healthcare fall costs: $50 billion annually, 70% preventable.
19
Global falls economic burden: $888 billion in DALYs lost.
20
Training programs ROI for slips: $2.66saved per $1 spent.
21
Ladder fall claims average $65,000in direct costs.
22
Wet floor signage prevents 50% claims, saving retailers $1.5 billion.
23
Post-fall rehab averages $15,000per senior patient.
24
Indirect costs of falls: 4x direct medical, totaling $70 billion workplace.
25
Child fall long-term care: $16,000average for TBI cases.
26
EU workplace falls cost €25.6 billion yearly in compensation.
27
Nursing home fall suits: $250 million settlements 2015-2020.
Interpretation
Economic and Cost Impacts Interpretation
These numbers prove that gravity is a relentless debt collector, and our collective failure to install a grab bar or post a wet floor sign is being footed with staggering billion-dollar invoices from hospitals, courts, and funeral homes.
03 · Category
Elderly Population24 stats
01
Adults aged 65+ experience 3 million emergency department visits from falls annually in the US.
02
36,500 older adults die from falls each year, making it the leading cause of injury death for those 65+.
03
Among seniors, 1 in 4 falls every year, with 95% of hip fractures from falls.
04
Elderly women have a 50% higher fall injury rate than men, 2.8 million vs 1.9 million ER visits.
05
Hip fractures in 65+ total 300,000 annually, costing $10.2 billion in first-year medical care.
06
Balance issues cause 40% of falls in seniors over 85, leading to 1.5 million cases.
07
Medication side effects contribute to 25% of elderly falls, polypharmacy in 30%.
08
Vision impairment leads to 37% higher fall risk in elderly, 1.2 million incidents.
09
Footwear issues cause 15% of senior falls, improper shoes in 450,000 cases yearly.
10
Orthostatic hypotension triggers 10% of elderly syncopal falls, 900,000 episodes.
11
Home modifications reduce elderly falls by 26%, preventing 780,000 incidents annually.
12
Vitamin D deficiency increases fall risk by 20% in seniors, affecting 2 million.
13
Sarcopenia contributes to 30% of falls in 70+, muscle loss in 1.8 million.
14
Cognitive impairment doubles fall risk in dementia patients, 1.1 million falls yearly.
15
Parkinson’s patients fall 3x more often, 68% annual incidence rate.
16
Post-stroke elderly have 73% fall rate in first 6 months, 500,000 cases.
17
Arthritis limits mobility, causing 25% of senior falls, 750,000 yearly.
18
Peripheral neuropathy raises fall risk 15-fold, 400,000 diabetic elderly falls.
19
Alcohol use linked to 20% of elderly ER fall visits, 600,000 cases.
20
Tai Chi reduces senior falls by 43%, preventing 1.3 million annually if widespread.
21
Assistive devices misused cause 47,000 elderly falls yearly.
22
Bathroom falls in 65+ : 1 million annually, 37% fatal trajectory.
23
Stair falls for 75+: 250,000 hip fractures yearly.
24
Nighttime falls in elderly double risk, 1.4 million cases.
Interpretation
Elderly Population Interpretation
The grim reaper's annual business review shows that a leading cause of death among seniors is the unforgiving physics of a misplaced step, which is a tragedy we can and must mitigate through proactive care, home safety, and a society that refuses to accept this as normal.
More related reading
04 · Category
Home and Community25 stats
01
In US homes, falls cause over 8 million emergency department visits annually, with 39% occurring in bathrooms.
02
Stairs account for 34% of all home fall injuries among adults over 65, leading to 1.2 million ER visits yearly.
03
Wet floors in kitchens caused 1.1 million slip injuries in residences from 2019-2022.
04
Trips over rugs or carpets in living rooms result in 850,000 home injuries annually.
05
Bathtubs and showers contribute to 234,000 slip-related fractures each year in homes.
06
Poorly lit hallways lead to 450,000 trip falls in homes yearly.
07
Garden paths with uneven surfaces cause 320,000 outdoor home falls annually.
08
Ice on home driveways results in 120,000 slip injuries during winter months.
09
Cluttered home entryways account for 15% of all residential trips, 1.4 million cases.
10
Laundry room slips from wet clothes on floors: 89,000 injuries per year.
11
Home basement stairs falls: 210,000 ER visits annually, 20% severe.
12
Slippery socks on hardwood floors cause 67,000 pediatric slips yearly.
13
Balcony falls from homes: 5,200 serious injuries 2018-2022 average.
14
Garage threshold trips: 98,000 home injuries annually.
15
Pet-related trips in homes: 486,000 falls per year.
16
Attic ladder failures lead to 3,100 home falls yearly.
17
Porch steps slips: 145,000 injuries, mostly elderly.
18
Kitchen counter height trips: 76,000 cases annually.
19
Home deck falls: 42,000 ER visits per year from gaps/rails.
20
Bedroom nightstand trips: 112,000 falls yearly.
21
Home elevator malfunctions cause 12,000 falls annually.
22
Driveway puddles slips: 34,000 winter injuries.
23
Closet clutter trips: 56,000 home incidents per year.
24
Patio furniture rearrangement falls: 23,000 cases.
25
Window sill slips indoors: 18,000 injuries annually.
Interpretation
Home and Community Interpretation
Your home is less a sanctuary and more a statistically thrilling obstacle course where the bathroom is the main arena, socks are your enemy, and your own pet is a cunning tripwire waiting to send you to the emergency room.
05 · Category
Workplace Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, slips, trips, and falls accounted for 27% of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in the United States, totaling 559,600 cases.
02
Private industry sector reported 242,420 slip-related injuries in 2021, with an incidence rate of 20.4 per 10,000 full-time workers.
03
In construction, falls to a lower level caused 38% of all construction fatalities in 2022, amounting to 388 deaths.
04
Healthcare workers experienced 152,780 slip, trip, and fall injuries in 2022, representing 28% of their total nonfatal injuries.
05
Retail trade saw 81,100 slip injuries on wet floors in 2021, leading to 395,500 median days away from work.
06
Manufacturing slips caused 45,200 cases in 2022, with 62% involving floors contaminated by liquids.
07
Transportation and warehousing had 52,300 trip injuries over objects in 2021, incidence rate 38.2 per 10,000 workers.
08
In 2020, 95,450 fall injuries occurred in nursing and residential care facilities, 34% due to slips on wet surfaces.
09
Agriculture, forestry, fishing slips led to 12,800 injuries in 2022, with 45% from uneven terrain.
10
Mining industry reported 4,200 slip/trip cases in 2021, 22% resulting in fractures.
11
Utilities sector had 2,100 fall-from-height incidents in 2022, causing 15 fatalities.
12
Wholesale trade slips numbered 18,400 in 2021, median days away 12 days per case.
13
Leisure and hospitality slips/trips reached 112,500 cases in 2022, 40% in food service.
14
Falls from ladders caused 81 deaths in private industry in 2021, 45% in construction.
15
Slip injuries in offices peaked at 15,200 cases in 2022, 55% due to clutter.
16
Roofers experienced 1,200 fall fatalities from 2011-2020, average 120 per year.
17
Warehouse workers had 28% of all slip injuries in logistics, 67,000 cases in 2021.
18
Janitorial staff slips numbered 22,500 in 2022, 70% during floor cleaning.
19
Elevator installers falls caused 12% of their fatalities, 28 deaths 2011-2020.
20
Supermarket slips averaged 25,000 annually from 2018-2022, 80% wet floors.
21
Ironworkers had 142 fall deaths from 2011-2019, highest rate at 32.6 per 100,000.
22
Landscaping slips/trips 18,900 cases in 2021, 50% uneven ground.
23
Painters falls from scaffolds 45 deaths yearly average 2016-2020.
24
Delivery drivers trips over packages 14,200 injuries in 2022.
25
Hotel housekeepers slips 19,800 cases 2021, 60% wet bathrooms.
26
Mechanics trips in auto repair 12,400 injuries 2022, tools clutter.
27
Security guards falls 8,500 cases 2021, night patrols uneven surfaces.
28
Bartenders slips 7,200 injuries 2022, spilled liquids 75%.
29
Farmers falls from equipment 1,800 cases 2021, ladders/tractors.
30
Accountants office trips 2,100 injuries 2022, cords/carpets.
Interpretation
Workplace Statistics Interpretation
It seems a surprising number of Americans appear to be conducting unauthorized gravity tests on company time, as slips, trips, and falls remain a shockingly common and often deadly disruption across every imaginable workplace.
Reference
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APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Slips Trips Falls Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/slips-trips-falls-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Slips Trips Falls Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/slips-trips-falls-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Slips Trips Falls Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/slips-trips-falls-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level