Unger Professional Cleaning Blog

Fall Protection is Still OSHA’s #1 Violation: Here’s What Facilities Can Do

Greg Ehrhardt | June 11, 2026

June is National Safety Month, an annual reminder of the importance of preventing workplace injuries—a commitment that has long been at the heart of both UNGER’s values and our product development philosophy. OSHA’s 2025 data reveal a troubling reality: falls continue to be one of the most persistent safety challenges across industries. Fall Protection remained OSHA’s most frequently cited workplace violation in 2025 for the 15th consecutive year, while ladder safety violations ranked third overall. Together, these findings underscore the importance of reducing work-at-height risks and adopting safer alternatives whenever possible.

Too often when we visit facilities, we see needless risks taken to clean high-access areas:

“I once witnessed a school custodian cleaning ceiling fixtures by standing on top of a 3-step stool ladder, which sat on top of a table.” Said Paul Ballard, Director of Sales for Unger. “I have also witnessed a custodian at another facility cleaning a fixture while standing on top of a chair sitting on top of a wobbly table. I asked him why he didn’t at least use a ladder I knew the facility had. He said they only had a couple available, and they were already in use. Cleaning had to be done, so he cleaned with what he had available.”

This is the challenge facilities have; cleaning tasks that must be done on time, with limited resources available to clean effectively. Safety usually takes a backseat when schedules demand cleaning tasks be completed.

But safety should always be a facility’s first priority, not just for workers’ health and safety, but financially as well. Direct costs for workers compensation claims due to slip and fall injuries average $54,499 per incident, according to the National Safety Council.

National Safety Month Infographic Prioritizing safety for high access cleaning could mean ensuring you have enough ladders for your facility, but quality ladders are expensive and can cost more than $1,000 for specialized options. Also, spotters are highly recommended by safety professionals for anyone cleaning without fall protection on a ladder more than six feet in the air. 33% of ladder injuries result in serious injuries or loss of life, according to the 2024 Ladder Safety Training and Citations Survey.

These realities are why we always recommend cleaning high access areas with telescopic poles, whether it be ceiling fixtures, outdoor windows or indoor glass panels. Professional cleaners can clean safely from the ground, forgoing the need for ladders, spotters (an additional labor expense), all while keeping themselves and those around them safer from workplace injuries.

It’s easy to try and clean with the resources you have available. It’s better to invest in quality innovative tools that save money, save time, and protect your safety all at the same time.

Faster, Safer Floor Cleaning!

Fall Protection is Still OSHA’s #1 Violation: Here’s What Facilities Can Do