Workers often are blamed for their own fatal falls because there always seems to be a rule that they didn't follow. The victims alive or dead are a convenient target because they can't effectively answer back. Now there is evidence showing that, no matter how careful you are, falls are inevitable with some exposures or hazards. I call these hazards Human Fall Traps, or HFTs, and they typically produce serious injury and death.
There is no defense against HFTs because we can't perceive them until it is too late. This is because we are human; a good analogy might be to say "you needed eyes in the back of your head" to see that rock coming. It is worse than that with HFTs. The cautionary phrases "Watch Your Step" or "Be Careful," often used in toolbox meetings or training programs, don't help. Training can't protect against hazards that can't be seen before it's too late.