Citation

Swaen G, Burns CJ, Collins JJ, Bodner KM, Dizor JF, Craun BA, Bonner EM. Occup. Med. 2014; 64(2): 120-125.

Affiliation

The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48674, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/occmed/kqt160

PMID

24420458

Abstract

Background Slips, trips and falls (STF) are a major cause of workplace injury.AimsTo examine risk factors for STF at a large US chemical manufacturing company.

Methods We conducted a case-control study of occupational STF. Cases were identified from company injury records between 1 April 2009 and 1 May 2011. Four controls per case were randomly selected from all active company workers employed during the same time. Data were collected through a questionnaire and from company medical examinations. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for personal, environmental and health-related risk factors for STF.

Results There were 74 cases and 309 controls. The response rate was 65% for the cases and 68% for the controls. Most STF were unrelated to production activities. When examining all factors in a logistic regression model, increased OR were observed for increased body mass index (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.03-2.02), having arthritis (OR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.01-4.37), lack of exercise (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.01-5.05), carrying materials (OR = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.41-6.43) and being female (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.17-5.19). Reduced risk of STF was observed for never having smoked (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.24-0.95), long service (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.34-0.81) and persons working over 8h a day (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.20-0.88).

Conclusions Risk factors for STF in a large US chemical company are similar to those reported from other workplaces, but we found that staying fit and healthy is important for reducing risk.

Language: en