Slips, Trips and Falls in Residential Construction

Contents

 

1. Who should read this white paper?

2. Introduction

3. Why this paper matters

4. The impact of falls and workplace injuries in New Zealand

5. Traditional hard hats and multi-impact tested helmets

6. Choosing head protection that matches the risk

7. Advanced head protection as a PPE platform

8. Further reading

 

 

  Download the Full White Paper

 

Date Prepared: 1 July 2026
Version: 1.0
Prepared by: Anthony Ford, ZERO Height Safety (NZ/AU) Limited

 

 

Who should read this white paper?

This white paper has been written for small residential building companies, contractors, business owners, site supervisors and health and safety advisers. It is intended to support practical decision-making, particularly for businesses that need clear guidance without unnecessary complexity.

The aim is not to suggest that every slip, trip or fall requires the same response. The aim is to help residential builders recognise when a common site hazard could become a critical risk, and when advanced head protection should be considered as part of the control measures.

 

 

Introduction

Residential construction is a dynamic work environment. Site conditions change as the build progresses, and the way workers move through the site changes with it. What may appear to be a routine slip, trip or fall hazard at one stage of the build can become a critical risk at another.

ZERO Height Safety has prepared this white paper to support small residential building companies, contractors and health and safety advisers when identifying and assessing slips, trips and falls as potential critical risks. The paper focuses on how head-impact risks can arise from common site events, and how advanced head protection can form part of the control measures where that risk remains foreseeable.

 

 

Why this paper matters

Slips, trips and falls are often managed through housekeeping, clear access and general site tidiness. These remain important controls and should be part of good site practice. However, they do not always address the full risk.

On a residential building site, a slip, trip or fall can become a critical risk where the consequence could include serious head injury, traumatic brain injury or loss of consciousness. This is particularly important for small residential building companies, where teams are often smaller, work conditions change quickly, and decisions need to be practical without reducing the level of protection provided to workers.

 

 

The critical risk question

The key issue is not only whether a slip, trip or fall could occur. The key issue is what the consequence could be if it does occur.

A hazard that is usually treated as low level can become critical when the surrounding site conditions increase the likelihood of head impact, fall from height or another serious outcome. For this reason, slips, trips and falls should not be classified by the hazard label alone. They should be considered through the normal process of identifying and assessing risks, then selecting control measures that are proportionate to the potential consequence.

 

 

The impact of falls and workplace injuries in New Zealand

Falls place a significant burden on New Zealand workers, businesses, families and the wider injury system. Fall-related active claim costs increased from $1.11 billion in 2017 to $2.58 billion in 2025.

ACC recorded 26,941 new work-related claims in the construction sector alone in 2025. ACC also notes that construction injuries resulted in over 1 million days of weekly compensation. These figures show why slips, trips and falls need to be taken seriously when identifying and assessing risks in residential construction.

 

 

Traditional hard hats and multi-impact tested helmets

Traditional industrial hard hats have played a long-standing role in construction. They are commonly used to manage vertical impact to the crown area from falling objects.

However, slips, trips and falls can create different impact scenarios. A worker may fall sideways, backwards or forwards and strike their head against a hard surface. In these situations, the risk may include lateral, front or rear impact, not only impact to the crown.

Multi-impact tested helmets are designed to provide a broader level of head protection. They typically include an energy-absorbing liner, improved coverage, better stability and a retention system such as a four-point chinstrap. Where the credible risk includes head strike from multiple directions, a multi-impact tested helmet is more closely aligned to the way the injury could occur.

 

 

Choosing head protection that matches the risk

Choosing head protection should not be reduced to whether a helmet meets a standard or what the purchase price is. The better starting point is to identify the risk, assess the possible outcome, and select protection that matches how the worker could actually be injured.

A traditional hard hat may be suitable where the main risk is falling objects striking the crown of the head. Where the risk includes slips, trips, falls, loss of balance, lateral impact or off-crown impact, advanced multi-impact tested head protection may be a more suitable control measure.

The white paper also explains common helmet selection mistakes, including assuming that all hard hats protect the same way, overlooking fit and comfort, and allowing price to outweigh function.

 

 

Advanced head protection as a PPE platform

Modern head protection can also support better use of other PPE. Residential builders and trades may face eye, face, hearing and sun exposure risks during everyday site activity.

An advanced helmet that functions as an integrated PPE platform can help reduce friction by allowing compatible eye protection, face protection, hearing protection and other accessories to connect quickly and securely. This can improve practical compliance because the right PPE is easier to access, easier to fit and more likely to be used when the task changes.

 

 

Further reading

For a technical overview of industrial helmet standards and advanced head protection, including AS/NZS 1801:2024, BS EN 397:2025, EN 12492, retention systems and off-crown impact protection, refer to ZERO’s white paper,

Advancing Head Protection in the Building and Construction Industry