If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Call 911 for any fall from a lift, a tip-over, or if someone is pinned or trapped.
- 2Stay still if you have head, neck or back pain, numbness or tingling. Don't let coworkers lift you unless there's immediate danger.
- 3Have someone lower and shut down the lift safely if anyone is still on it.
- 4Tell your supervisor and report the fall in writing as soon as you're able.
- 5Ask that the lift be tagged out and left as it is until it can be inspected.
- 6Note — or have someone note — the lift type, the unit or rental number, platform height, ground conditions and whether you were tied off.
- 7Get names of coworkers and anyone from other trades who saw it.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Aerial lift falls often involve several parties: your employer, a general contractor, other trades on site, and a rental company that owns the lift. Your report goes to your employer, but write down the lift's owner, rental tag, and anything you noticed — a soft or sloped floor, a pothole, a missing gate chain, a guardrail you had to lean over, or a lift that jerked or drifted.
Lift incidents tend to be investigated. Ask for a copy of any incident report, and keep your own notes and photos as well.
Your employer generally sends the report to its insurer or claims administrator. Deadlines to report and file vary by state, so check with your state's workers' compensation agency as soon as possible.
Keep medical records, mileage to appointments, and a log of missed work and daily limitations.
Getting medical care
Emergency care comes first. Follow-up is often with orthopedics, spine care or neurology and concussion care, with physical therapy afterward. A licensed clinician decides what imaging and care are appropriate after an evaluation.
Tell every clinician how far you fell, how you landed and whether you hit your head. List all pain, even mild. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first for follow-up, so ask your employer or adjuster.
If you are prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Home delivery can help while you can't drive.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- You have a spine injury, head injury or broken bones that keep you off work.
- The lift was rented, owned or maintained by another company, or may have malfunctioned.
- Site conditions controlled by a general contractor or another trade played a part.
- Your claim is denied or delayed, or you're blamed for not being tied off.
- You can't return to work at heights.
- There are disputes about surgery, specialists or therapy.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Recovery from a fall from height can take time. Keep therapy and follow-up visits, and tell your clinicians about new symptoms like headaches, numbness or trouble concentrating.
Ask your doctor for clear restrictions on heights, climbing, lifting and driving. Ask your employer whether ground-level or shop work is available.
Many people feel nervous going back up after a fall. That's normal; mention it to your clinician. Keep your supervisor and adjuster updated.
Questions to ask
- Doctor: Do I need imaging of my back, neck or head?
- Doctor: When can I work at heights again?
- Employer: Who owns the lift, and will it be inspected?
- Employer: Can I get a copy of the incident report?
- Adjuster: What is my claim number, and which specialists can I see?
- Adjuster: How are therapy and mileage handled?
- Attorney: The rental lift malfunctioned. Does that change my options?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I fell from a scissor lift or aerial lift?
Call 911 and stay still if your head, neck or back hurts. Have the lift tagged out and documented. Report the fall in writing once you're cared for.
Is a fall from a scissor lift covered by workers' comp?
Falls from lifts on the job are often handled through workers' compensation, depending on your state and situation. Report it in writing. Check deadlines with your state's agency.
What if the lift was rented from another company?
Report to your employer as usual and note the rental company and unit number. If the lift malfunctioned, there may be questions beyond workers' compensation. Many people talk with an attorney.
I wasn't tied off when I fell — can I still file a claim?
Workers' compensation is generally not based on fault, but rules vary by state. Report the fall truthfully. If you're told you're not covered, consider talking with an attorney.
What injuries are common in aerial lift falls?
Broken bones, back and neck injuries, and head injuries are common after falls from height. Some aren't obvious at first. Get a full evaluation.
When can I work on a lift again after falling?
Your clinician decides when it's safe for you to work at height. Ask for written restrictions. Your employer may offer ground-level work meanwhile.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).