Nonfatal occupational injuries from slips, trips, and falls among older workers treated in hospital emergency departments, United States 1998.
BACKGROUND
Falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults. As the workforce demographics shift to an older population, the dearth of information on occupational falls among older adults must be addressed.


METHODS
A national probability sample of hospital emergency departments (EDs) (National Electronic Injury Surveillance System) was utilized to characterize falls at work.


RESULTS
Older workers were found not to be at increased risk of a fall injury, but were more likely than younger workers to be hospitalized post-injury. Same-level falls were the most common type of incident among older workers. Falls from height were more prevalent among men than women. The narrative case descriptions for same-level falls to the floor primarily implicated floor contamination and tripping hazards.


CONCLUSIONS
Fall prevention programs targeted to older workers must examine extrinsic sources of falls, particularly surface traction, contaminant control, and footwear.
Layne
Larry A
LA
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA. lal3@cdc.gov
Pollack
Keshia M
KM
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011336:Probability; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*