Slip and Falls

An IMWCA Perspective2010 - 2015

The Numbers

• $12,618,411 in total incurred• 1819 total incidents• 725 incident only• 161 claims > $10,000• 12 Litigated claims with $1,216,000 incurred• 2 fatalities > $750,000

Break Down

• Slip and Falls = $ 8,363,990/1061 =$7883• Walking, falls from different heights, equipment

• Ice and Snow = $3,968,385/618 = $6421• Stairs = $390,000/138 = $2826

LOSSES BY DEPARTMENT

Streets and Roads

• $4.9 million in claims• Highest number of claims with 208• Highest number of indemnity claims (63)• Shoulders and knees• Leading causation• Dismounting equipment• Fall on ice• Fall from ladder

Law Enforcement

• $1.29 million in claims• Second highest number of claims with 156• 34 indemnity claims• Shoulder and wrist injury• Leading causation• Slipping on ice (non emergency)

Volunteer Firefighters

• $1.1 million in claims• 73 claims• 34 indemnity claims• Shoulder and arm• Leading causation• Tripping on hoses• Slipping on ice

Clerical

• $777,000 in claims• 104 claims• 15 indemnity claims for $600,000• Knees and legs• Leading causation• Fall on ice• Trip over cords and carpet• Falls down stairs

Landfill

• $640,000 in claims• 23 claims with 8 indemnity• 4 major losses with 1 repeater• Shoulder, knee and head• Leading causation• Fall from equipment• Slip on walking surface

Other Top Departments

• Bus/Transit/Taxi- $796,000• Falls from vehicle and slips on ice

• Administration - $352,000• Electric - $352,000• Conservation/Parks - $332,000• Janitor/Supervisor - $320,000• Fall on ice, falls from ladders and stairs

BODY PARTS

Body Part Frequency of $10K claims $ of Total Incurred

Shoulders 48 $3,585,147

Knees 32 $1,290,313

Wrists 7 4973,133

Head 7 $936,189

Hips 6 $824,658

Lower Arm 8 $759,829

Elbows 8 $452,126

Neck 2 $431,244

Ankles 8 $347,368

Low Back 6 $284,082

Low Legs 2 $94,000

Misc. 21 $656,016

Total 155 $10,634,105

Causation

• Jumping or falling from equipment• Did not use three points of

contact• Lacked fall protection• Climbing on slick tires or

wheel wells to fuel• Being on trailer while loading

Causation

• Falls on ice• Lack of awareness• Improper footwear• Straying from maintained

walkway• Lack of maintained walkway• Going too fast• Carrying too much• Distracted

Causation

• Fall on stairs• Going too fast• Improper shoes – high heels

and flip flops• Carrying too much• Distracted• Housekeeping

Causation

• Fall from ladders• Improper training• Lacked ladder • Used chair• Over reaching up or over

• http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/

Odds and Ends

• 24 Repeaters comprise 35% of losses• You know who is most likely to repeat.

What Questions do you have?

losscontrol@iowaleague.org