Fall on and from scaffolding (W12)
ICD-10 code W12 is used to document injuries caused by a fall on or from scaffolding. This code and its variations help specify whether the injury is part of an initial medical encounter, a follow-up visit, or treatment for complications related to the fall.
These codes cover accidents commonly referred to as a fall from scaffold, providing precise classification for medical records and billing. The base code W12 denotes the general event of falling from scaffolding, while the extensions W12.XXXA, W12.XXXD, and W12.XXXS identify the timing of care: initial encounter, subsequent encounter, and sequela (long-term effects), respectively. Using these distinctions supports accurate reporting of injury circumstances and treatment phases in workplace or construction-related falls, assisting both coders and health professionals in capturing the full clinical picture.
External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01–Y99)
Slipping, tripping, stumbling and falls (W00-W19)
W12 Fall on and from scaffolding
- W12.XXXA Fall on and from scaffolding, initial encounter
- W12.XXXD Fall on and from scaffolding, subsequent encounter
- W12.XXXS Fall on and from scaffolding, sequela
Fall on and from scaffolding (W12)
Instructional Notations
7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code W12
7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
