Analysis of text from injury reports improves understanding of construction falls.
OBJECTIVE
We combined payroll data, coded workers' compensation (WC) data, and text descriptions of injuries from the construction of Denver International Airport to create a more comprehensive picture of falls from height (FFH) than is typically available from WC data. Text descriptions were coded to identify circumstances surrounding falls. Slips/trips preceded one third of FFH, often involving motor vehicles or heavy equipment. Another third involved movement or collapse of work surfaces, usually ladders or scaffolds.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant contribution of motor vehicles and heavy equipment to FFH, particularly those preceded by slips/trips, was not apparent from coded data. Heavy equipment engineering modifications are called for and workers in street/roadway construction/site development need fall protection training. Text analyses allow exploration of factors not identified at the time of data collection and better understanding of the context in which injuries occur.
Lipscomb
Hester J
HJ
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. hester.lipscomb@duke.edu
Glazner
Judith
J
Bondy
Jessica
J
Lezotte
Dennis
D
Guarini
Kenneth
K
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000401:Aircraft; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics