Source
Industrial and Occupational Ergonomics: Users' Encyclopedia. Cincinnati, OH: International Journal of Industrial Engineering, 1999 Apr; :CDROM (1-9)
Abstract
In 1995, there were approximately 343,000 injuries attributable to work-related falls involving days away from work in private industry. According to the National Safety Council, falls are one of the highest causes of death in the construction industry and other workplaces. During 1996, nearly 22% of days-away-from-work injuries resulted from slips and falls in the construction industry. In addition to the lost lives and injuries caused by falls, businesses lose millions of dollars each year due to the loss of work days of the injured workers, significant increases in insurance premiums, workers' compensation claims, and product liability costs. Construction workers have high risks for occupational injuries and fatalities in the workplace. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that the construction industry had the highest injury-incidence rate -- 9.7 per 1 00 full-time workers -- among all industries in 1996. The lost-workday injury-incidence rate (4.4 per 100 full-time workers) of the construction industry was the second highest in the United States in 1996; only that of the transportation industry (5.0 per 100 full-time workers) was higher. Falls are the third leading cause of non-fatal occupational injuries in the construction industry. Only overexertion and being struck by an object rank higher than fall-induced events. Falls have been found to be a significant contributor to lumbar spine injury, fracture of bones, and disability. The injury from a slip or fall may also result in a musculoskeletal strain injury, usually to the low back, ankle, or knee. According to BLS, the number of workplace fatalities among all industries decreased to a five-year low in 1996. However, deaths caused by falls continued to increase in 1996 with the construction industry accounting for more than half of those fatalities. Falls are the leading cause of occupational fatality among construction workers. Falls accounted for approximately 32% of fatal occupational injuries in the construction industry for 1995, 98% of them were falls from elevation.
Keywords
Construction-industry; Construction-workers; Construction; Statistical-analysis; Injury-prevention; Injuries; Lost-work-days; Biomechanical-modeling; Biomechanics; Floors; Task-performance; Surface-properties; Age-factors; Protective-equipment; Protective-measures; Personal-protective-equipment; Personal-protection