October #2: Winter Issue | Slip, Trips & Falls
The Extreme Costs of Slip, Trip, & Fall Claims
As winter approaches, it’s important to remember how costly slip, trip and fall claims can be. Many employees work outdoors, but even walking from a vehicle into an office can be hazardous when snow and ice are present. While we receive most of these claims during winter, slips, trips and falls can happen year-round, even in ideal conditions.
Recent IMWCA claims show the impact:
| Calendar Year | Total Claims | Claims Still Open | Total Incurred Range for the 20 Costliest Claims |
| 2023 | 219 | 5 | $44,960–$524,342 |
| 2024 | 179 | 10 | $65,794–$584,197 |
| 2025 | 208 | 27 | $65,141–$280,882 |
| 2026, (Through mid-October) | 102 | — | $16,786–$170,266 |
Total incurred includes payments made and reserves for expected future costs. Like many workers’ compensation claims, slip, trip and fall claims can have a “long tail,” with payments continuing for years after an accident. Reserves must be maintained until the claim is closed.
Many 2026 claims, and some from 2025, are still developing, meaning the full severity of the injuries and the treatment needed are not yet known. Their estimated costs may change.
The 2026 claims include employees in building maintenance, law enforcement and public works/secondary roads, where outdoor exposure is common. They also include library and clerical/office employees, reinforcing that these hazards affect everyone.
Remind employees to pay attention to their surroundings and walking surfaces, slow down and allow extra time when conditions deteriorate. Working together and staying alert can help reduce both the number and severity of slips, trips and falls.
Virtual Round Table:
Cost of Risk: Allocating Your Work Comp Premium
Join us at 9:30 a.m. on November 10 for our last Virtual Roundtable of the year on Cost of Risk: Allocating Your Work Comp Premium. Submit your questions ahead of time to make the discussion even more relevant. Register now and find past Virtual Roundtables online.
How to Save Time and Money This Winter
It is a snowy day in Iowa and a city clerk finds themselves headed outside to go to the post office. The snow on the sidewalk has been walked on and compacted, creating a slick walking surface. As the clerk takes a few steps on the slick snow, they suddenly feel their feet slip and find themselves lying on the ground. As they fell, their shoulder struck the ground, causing a fracture of the arm. The result is that the clerk will miss several weeks of work and see the city’s workers’ compensation premiums rise to cover this large claim. In this scenario, the pain and injury, lost time and premium increase could have been avoided with one small change.
IMWCA has offered grants to buy slip-resistant footwear since 2019. Fourteen members have used $42,000 of grant money to purchase 772 sets of footwear since 2020. The result is that those employees have only had two slip-and-fall injuries over that period of time. Both claims occurred because the employee wasn’t wearing the footwear when required.
Slip-and-fall injuries due to ice and snow do not have to happen! IMWCA can help provide slip-resistant footwear for your employees for free as long as your entity is willing to invest a little time in training and supervision to ensure they are used.
If you are interested in maximizing your employees’ time and reducing workers’ compensation premiums, please check out our grant program or contact your IMWCA Safety and Risk Improvement Adviser for more details.
During the 2026 Claims 101 Webinar, we explore the workers’ compensation system, the employer’s role in the process, the importance of Company Nurse, and the investigation process as we share practical insights to ensure your employees get the care they need. Submit your questions ahead of time or ask during the webinar.
Have a training topic in mind for IMWCA University, a webinar or an in-person session? We’d love to hear your ideas!
