Fall Prevention Research and Practice: A Total Worker Safety Approach

Abstract

Slips, trips, and falls (STF) represent a serious hazard to workers and occupants in many industries, homes, and communities. Often, the cause of a STF incident is multifactorial, encompassing human, environmental, and task risk factors. A STF-related disability can greatly diminish the occupational capability and quality of life of individuals in both the workplace and the home. Countering STF hazards and risks both on and off the job and on all aspects of control measures is a “total worker safety” matter, a challenging yet tangible undertaking. As the federal organization responsible for conducting research for the prevention of work-related injuries in the United States, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been conducting research on STF controls for some decades. Many NIOSH research outcomes have been utilized for STF prevention in workplaces, with potential for prevention in homes as well. This paper summarizes the concept of total worker safety for STF control, NIOSH priority research goals, major activities, and accomplishments, and some emerging issues on STF. The strategic planning process for the NIOSH research goals and some identified research focuses are applicable to the development and implementation of global STF research goals.

Same‐level fall injuries in US workplaces by age group, gender, and industry

“…Federal agencies in the US have devoted considerable attention in recent years to preventing fatal fall injuries from heights, including a national public health campaign, a smartphone application to promote ladder safety, and a recent occupational safety regulation . Fall injuries on the same level cause a much greater number of lost‐time injuries but have not received the same level of attention as falls from heights.…”

Characterizing the Interrelationships of Prescription Opioid and Benzodiazepine Drugs With Worker Health and Workplace Hazards

“…62,63 Approximately 20% of occupational falls among workers involve ladders: 80% among construction workers. The construction industry had the highest fatal ladder fall injury rate compared with all other industries, as revealed by data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2011.…”

“…64 Areas for intervention may lie in the occupational realm and may be extrinsic, for example, ladder safety training at work, or may be intrinsic, for example, related to individual factors such as PD use. 62,63 …”

“…For example, literature was not identified to describe PD use specifically in the context of working on ladders in an occupational setting (Model 1.2). However, the literature supported the association between PD use and falls, 44,65–78 including support for fall injuries from ladders 63,64 and regardless of where PD use originates, their use can moderate occupational outcomes. Research gaps are highlighted, such as the need for experimental studies, which better elucidate hazard definition, exposure assessment, risk assessment, and risk management of various exposures in the workplace in combination with PD use.…”

Gender differences in the occurrence of nonfatalagricultural injuries among farmers in Fukuoka, Japan

“…Often, farmers fall from slopes, banks, ladders, or wet areas at the farm. Elderly farmers are particularly at risk 14 ) . Risk factors for elderly farmers include visual impairment and gait and balance disturbances.…”