If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Stop work and sit down out of the drop zone.
- 2Call 911 for loss of consciousness, confusion, repeated vomiting, a severe or worsening headache, slurred speech, neck pain with numbness or weakness, or heavy bleeding.
- 3Don't drive yourself to care, and have someone stay with you for several hours.
- 4Keep the tool and your hard hat — a crack or dent can show how hard you were hit.
- 5Tell your foreman and report the injury in writing. Keep a copy.
- 6Note the height of the drop, who was working above you, and whether tool tethers or toe boards were in use.
- 7Write down any symptoms you notice in the first hours.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Dropped-tool injuries usually happen when someone is working above on a lift, scaffold, ladder or structure, and the area below isn't barricaded. In your report, describe the tool, roughly how high it fell from, where you were, and whether the area was marked off.
If the person above you works for another trade or company, write their company name. You still report to your own employer.
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 a symptom diary for the coming weeks: headaches, dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, neck stiffness, trouble concentrating, sleep and mood.
Getting medical care
Urgent care, an emergency department or occupational medicine can evaluate a head strike, and a clinician may decide imaging is needed. Ongoing symptoms are often followed by neurology and concussion care or spine care. A licensed clinician decides what is appropriate after an evaluation.
Tell the clinician what hit you, from how high, and whether your hard hat was damaged. Mention neck pain too. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first, so ask your employer or adjuster — but go to emergency care first if you need it.
If you're prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Home delivery helps if you shouldn'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 concussion symptoms that last and affect your work.
- The tool was dropped by a worker from another company or trade.
- Your claim is denied because scans are normal but symptoms continue.
- You're pressured to go back up or back to full duty before you're cleared.
- There are disputes about concussion or spine specialist care.
- You notice memory, mood or personality changes.
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
Concussion recovery usually involves rest at first and then a gradual return to activity, guided by your clinician. Doing too much too soon can bring symptoms back.
Ask your doctor about restrictions on heights, driving, screens, noisy areas and full shifts. Ask your employer about lighter or ground-level work.
Keep your foreman and adjuster updated. Ask what's being done about tool tethering and drop zones on your site.
Questions to ask
- Doctor: Do I have a concussion, and what warning signs should I watch for?
- Doctor: Is my neck injured too?
- Doctor: When can I work at heights or drive again?
- Employer: Who was working above me, and was the area barricaded?
- Employer: Can I get a copy of the incident report?
- Adjuster: What is my claim number, and is concussion care handled under my claim?
- Attorney: A worker from another trade dropped the tool. Does that matter?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I was hit in the head by a tool dropped from above?
Stop work, sit down and get checked the same day, and call 911 for loss of consciousness, confusion, vomiting or a worsening headache. Keep the tool and hard hat. Report it in writing.
Can I get a concussion even with a hard hat on?
Yes, a hard hat lowers risk but can't prevent every concussion. Watch for headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and light sensitivity. Get evaluated.
Is being hit by a dropped tool covered by workers' comp?
Struck-by injuries 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 someone from another company dropped the tool?
Report to your own employer and note the other worker's company. That may raise questions beyond workers' compensation. Many people talk with an attorney.
How long do concussion symptoms last?
It varies a lot from person to person. Some improve quickly and others have symptoms for longer. Your clinician can guide your recovery.
When can I go back to work after a head injury from a dropped tool?
Your clinician decides, often with a gradual return. Ask for written restrictions. Share them with your foreman.
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).