Risk factors and emerging technologies for preventing falls from heights at construction sites

Falls at construction sites account for approximately 50% of all accidents reported in the US annually, making them the leading cause of injuries and fatalities. Although there have been several studies characterizing fall-related hazards and emerging technologies, a systematic review of literature examining the intersection of fall from height (FFH) risk factors and emerging technological solutions is missing. This paper addresses this gap by conducting a systematic literature review to investigate FFH risk factors and the use of technologies to prevent falls from heights on construction sites. The review analyzed 94 research articles published between 2002 and 2022 and identified the most common FFH hazards, including missing guardrails, lack of personal protective equipment, lack of knowledge and training, loss of balance and unsafe behavior, violation of safety rules, and poor site management. The review also revealed that individual technologies are insufficient to address most fall hazards, and there is a need for an integrated system of various technologies to improve fall prevention on construction sites.