Citation

Socias-Morales CM, Chaumont Menéndez CK, Marsh SM. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2018; 61(3): 204-215.

Affiliation

Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.22810

PMID

29383747

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Falls are the second leading cause of work-related fatalities among US workers. We describe fatal work-related falls from 2003 to 2014, including demographic, work, and injury event characteristics, and changes in rates over time.

METHODS: We identified fatal falls from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and estimated rates using the BLS Current Population Survey.

RESULTS: From 2003 to 2014, there were 8880 fatal work-related falls, at an annual rate of 5.5 per million FTE. Rates increased with age. Occupations with the highest rates included construction/extraction (42.2 per million FTE) and installation/maintenance/repair (12.5 per million FTE). Falls to a lower level represented the majority (n = 7521, 85%) compared to falls on the same level (n = 1128, 13%).

CONCLUSIONS: Falls are a persistent source of work-related fatalities. Fall prevention should continue to focus on regulation adherence, Prevention through Design, improving fall protection, training, fostering partnerships, and increasing communication.

Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Language: en

Keywords

falls; fatalities; occupational Injury