REVISED JUNE 2021

DROPS imPEriAL
Classification Dropped Objects This Calculator provides a common

Potential Consequences
benchmark in the classification of

CALCULATinO R
the potential consequences of a

1ft - 300ft / 0lb to 3lb

dropped object.
One of a number of similar tools, the
DROPS Calculator is endorsed by the
c jouLE 300
DROPS Workgroup and recognised
by HSE Organisations. While other
270 ‘calculators’ exist, they all follow the
240 same principle – plotting the mass of a
210 dropped object against the distance it
180 falls to determine its possible
150 consequences.
Considerations
120
• With light objects (<0.1 kg) a key
90 influencing factor is the effect of
an object punching the skin and
damaging tissue/organic
60 functions. The calculator
assumes a blunt object so is not
compatible with broken glass,
metal shards etc.

30 • The wearing of standard PPE, eg

hard hat, safety boots and eye
27
Dropped Height (feet)

24 protection, is assumed in the

21 calculator.
18 • Do not subtract the height of an
15 individual, measure fall distance
to solid deck/ ground level.
12
40 JOULE • DROPS Calculator and other
similar tools are guides only
9
providing cursory indication of
possible outcome – they are not
6 an accurate prediction.
• In reality, even a small object
falling from height can be lethal.

3 FATALITY JOULES AND THE

40 JOULE RULE
FATALITY
MAJOR The Joule is a unit of energy equal to
the work done by a force of one
Lost Time Injury (LTI)
Days Away From Work Case (DAFWC)
MAJOR
newton acting through one metre.
2 Lost Time Injury (LTI)
In terms of dropped objects, it is
Days Away From
recognised Work
that any Case
blunt (DAFWC)
object
MINOR achieving 40 Joules or more in fall
Medical Treatment Case (MTC)
MINOR
energy is likely to result in a
Recordable incident or worse on
Medical
impact withTreatment Case
an unprotected (MTC)
human
SLIGHT body (eg no PPE).
First Aid For example,SLIGHT
200g Machine Bolt
falling 27m = 53Joules (0.2[kg] x
First Aid
27[m] x 9.8[g] = 53J).
1
0 4 8 12 1 4 8 12 2 4 8 12 3 Page 1 of 2
Mass (lb) (oz)
 REVISED JUNE 2021

DROPS imPEriAL
Classification Dropped Objects This Calculator provides a common

Potential Consequences
benchmark in the classification of

CALCULATinO R
the potential consequences of a

1ft - 300ft / 0lb to 22lb

dropped object.
One of a number of similar tools, the
DROPS Calculator is endorsed by the
c jouLE 300
DROPS Workgroup and recognised
by HSE Organisations. While other
270 ‘calculators’ exist, they all follow the
240 same principle – plotting the mass of a
210 dropped object against the distance it
180 falls to determine its possible
150
FATALITY consequences.
Considerations
120
MAJOR • With light objects (<0.1 kg) a key
90 Lost Time Injury (LTI) influencing factor is the effect of
Days Away From Work Case (DAFWC) an object punching the skin and
damaging tissue/organic
60
MINOR functions. The calculator
assumes a blunt object so is not
Medical Treatment Case (MTC) compatible with broken glass,
metal shards etc.

30 SLIGHT • The wearing of standard PPE, eg

hard hat, safety boots and eye
27 First Aid
Dropped Height (feet)

24 protection, is assumed in the

21 calculator.
18 • Do not subtract the height of an
15 individual, measure fall distance
to solid deck/ ground level.
12
• DROPS Calculator and other
similar tools are guides only
9
providing cursory indication of
possible outcome – they are not
6 an accurate prediction.
• In reality, even a small object
falling from height can be lethal.

3 JOULES AND THE

40 JOULE RULE
FATALITY
The Joule is a unit of energy equal to
the work done by a force of one
MAJOR
newton acting through one metre.
2 Lost Time Injury (LTI)
In terms of dropped objects, it is
Days Away From
recognised Work
that any Case
blunt (DAFWC)
object
achieving 40 Joules or more in fall
MINOR
energy is likely to result in a
Recordable incident or worse on
40 JOUL Medical
impact withTreatment Case
an unprotected (MTC)
human
E body (eg no PPE).
For example,SLIGHT
200g Machine Bolt
falling 27m = 53Joules (0.2[kg] x
First Aid
27[m] x 9.8[g] = 53J).
1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Page 2 of 2
Mass (lb)