In its simplest form, an object at any height isn’t the issue—it’s controlling that object so it doesn’t add to the risks already apparent— which has proven to be a pretty large issue on jobsites throughout the world. Aside from inconvenience and productivity losses of dropping an object at height and having to retrieve it, in 2013, “struck by falling object” was responsible for the loss of 245 lives in the workplace, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Surprisingly, this often-overlooked hazard claimed over 40 percent as many occupational deaths as actually falling from an elevated surface (595 feet), and does not include non-fatal injuries.
With the ever-present force of gravity, unsecured things like hand tools, nuts and bolts, and even personal protective items like hardhats will become missiles when dropped from 50 stories. Slippery fingers aren’t the only problem; any of these items can be accidently kicked, dropped, blown or even fall out of a bucket from elevated work locations, such as ladders, lifts, scaffolding or platforms.