Preventing the fall: global innovation in fall-from-height safety technologies

The Global Initiative for Industrial Safety (GIFIS), in collaboration with Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy, has released a new briefing paper: ‘Preventing the Fall: Global Innovation in Fall-From-Height Safety Technologies.’

Occupational safety and health remain a major global challenge. Each year, more than 2.93 million people die from work-related causes, while an estimated 395 million workers suffer non-fatal occupational injuries.

Within this broader burden, falls from height are among the most severe and persistent categories of industrial safety risk, particularly in sectors where vertical exposure is embedded in daily operations.

This briefing paper provides an expert analysis of technology development related to fall-from-height risks, drawing on patent evidence from the WIPO Patent Landscape Report on Occupational Health and Safety.

It has been prepared to support the broader GIFIS community by providing structured insight into how patented technologies are evolving to address fall-related safety risks.

Drawing on expert input, the paper is intended to inform practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and technology developers interested in safer work-at-height practices and the role of innovation in industrial safety.

Authors

Pieze Li and Zongshuai Fan (Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge). Reviewed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),

About the Global Initiative for Future Industrial Safety