“It’s a serious problem”: Cost of dropped objects include fatalities, injuries

Summary

Safety+Health Magazine reports on a National Safety Council 2019 presentation highlighting the human and financial impact of dropped objects on jobsites. Drawing on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the article says dropped objects contributed to 255 worker fatalities and 47,920 nonfatal injuries in 2016, reinforcing the issue as a major construction and industrial safety concern. Mathew Moreau of Pure Safety Group framed dropped objects as more than a compliance issue, emphasizing their link to fatalities, injuries, workers’ compensation costs, and property or environmental damage. The article also points to growing enforcement attention, with OSHA increasingly using the General Duty Clause where specific dropped-object controls are lacking. For employers, the practical message is clear: evaluate current tethering practices, benchmark against industry peers, and improve systems proactively before an incident or citation forces action.

Key Facts

• Who: Safety+Health Magazine reported comments from Mathew Moreau, Product Manager of Dropped Tools and FME for Pure Safety Group.

• What: The article outlines the safety and cost impact of dropped objects and promotes proactive tool tethering and prevention measures.

• When/Where: Reported September 10, 2019, from the National Safety Council 2019 Congress & Expo in San Diego.

• Outcome: Employers are urged to strengthen tethering practices, reduce incident risk, and get ahead of emerging enforcement pressure.

Quotes

“It’s a serious problem.” — Mathew Moreau
Context: Establishes dropped objects as a major safety and business issue, not a minor housekeeping concern.

“There’s a lot we can learn from other industries.” — Mathew Moreau
Context: Highlights the value of borrowing mature prevention practices from sectors such as oil and gas and nuclear.

Takeaways

1. Dropped objects create both acute safety risk and measurable financial loss through injuries, fatalities, and workers’ compensation claims.

2. The article supports the case for proactive tool tethering as a practical prevention step, not just a reactive control.

3. Industries with mature dropped-object programs can serve as models for construction and other sectors still developing their approach.

4. OSHA attention appears to be increasing, even before fully specific dropped-object rules are in place.

5. Benchmarking current practices against peers can reveal whether a company is relying on makeshift methods instead of purpose-built systems.