Preventing falls at work: a strategic issue for companies

Analyses

4 minutes

13 November 2025

Falls from height and on the same level are recurring and unavoidable events in the daily work of certain sectors. These accidents can disrupt an employee's life and have a heavy impact on the company. Beyond physical injuries, the financial, legal, and reputational repercussions can be considerable.

Workplace accidents: situation and key figures

150 000 accidents

En France, on dénombre 150 000 accidents de travail liés à des chutes chaque année.

11%

Des accidents du travail tous secteurs confondus sont la conséquence d'une chute.

15%

des incapacités permanentes les plus graves résultent d'une chute de plain-pied ou de hauteur.

10 millions

de journées de travail sont perdues chaque année à cause des chutes.

The most affected sectors:

- Construction industry
- Logistics and transportation
- Healthcare and medical-social sector (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.)
- Distribution and local shops
- Industry
- Temporary work

The sectors where falls result in the most serious permanent disabilities:

According to the French Netional Health Insurance , in 2023, the following three sectors experienced the highest number of accidents involving falls resulting in permanent disability exceeding 10% (D >10%) :
- Service activities (temporary work, social work, healthcare, etc.) : 828 accidents resulting in a >10% disability
- Construction industry: 574 accidents resulting in a >10% disability
- Food services, businesses, and industries: 505 accidents resulting in a >10% disability

The most at-risk situations for falling at work:

According to CARSAT, 80% of work-related fall accidents (excluding the construction sector) occur in the following situations:
1 - Circulations within the company
2 - Outdoor circulation
3 - Movements in the stairs
4 - Roofing interventions (excluding construction)
5 - Access and work in the mezzanine
6 - Work at height
7 - Movements around the workstation (including offices)
8 - Vehicle ascents/descents
9 - Movements on loading and unloading docks
10 - Cleaning and cleanliness work

The financial impact of falls, a real risk

According to the French National Health Insurance the direct annual cost of workplace falls amounts to more than one billion euros (daily allowances, health expenses, pensions). While the costs for companies are difficult to quantify with certainty, experts estimate that they amount to about 5 times the direct costs, or 5 billion euros per year borne by employers.
In light of these figures, we recommend that all companies take the issue of falls seriously. It is essential to be aware of the problems they can cause in all sectors of activity. The consequences are numerous and costly:

Payment of daily allowances
Recruitment and/or training of a replacement
Temporary reorganization of teams
Internal investigation into individual responsibilities
Updating of safety protocols
Workspace compliance
Management of internal and external communication

A single accident can thus mobilize significant resources and disrupt activity. While your employees are probably your main concern regarding falls, also consider visitors, delivery personnel, temporary workers, and subcontractors who regularly visit your premises. They are equally affected by this risk.

Our advice: prevent rather than endure

At Howden, we believe that falls from height or at ground level should not be overlooked. Too many companies underestimate their impact and delay implementing preventive measures, exposing themselves to the risk of serious accidents.
Prevention is effective in this type of accident, as many falls can be avoided by implementing preventive measures combined with effective risk assessment. Beyond simply removing obvious obstacles, it must take into account the specific needs of employees, including those with disabilities (visible or otherwise), and ensure that safety measures are sustainable in order to anticipate all eventualities.

Here are also some good practices to implement:
•   Regularly audit the facilities: Check the condition of the floors, lighting, signage, and accessibility of the passageways.
•   Implementing appropriate cleaning protocols: especially in environments with high humidity or exposed to slippery substances (grease, oils, chemicals).
•   Train the teams: Raise awareness among employees about risks and good reflexes to adopt, especially in sectors with high staff turnover.
•   Take into account the specific needs of each person: Ensuring that security devices are inclusive and adapted to people with disabilities, visible or not.
•   Follow incidents and near-misses: Analyzing data to detect trends and adjust measures accordingly.
•   Collaborating with specialized partners: To call upon risk management experts to benefit from personalized support and proven solutions.