title: Occupational accidents with ladders in Spain: Risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational accidents suffered by workers in Spain when using ladders were analyzed over a six year period from 2003-2008, during which the total of notified ladder-related accidents amounted to 21,725.
  
  
  METHODS
  Different accident-related factors were identified for the purpose of developing a pattern of those factors that had the greatest influence on the seriousness and the fatality of such accidents. Thus, a series of variables were examined such as age and length of service of the injured worker, firm size, the work sector, the injury suffered, and the part of the body that was injured. Since falls is the most frequent and most serious of ladder related occupational accidents, a special analysis of falls was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings showed that the seriousness of ladder-related accidents increased with the age of the injured worker. Likewise, accidents at places other than the usual workplace were more serious and registered higher fatalities than those that occurred at the usual place of work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis of falls from ladders established that accidents in smaller-sized firms were of greater seriousness and involved more fatalities than those in larger-sized firms. The investigation also underlined the need for stricter compliance with preliminary safety assessments when working with ladders.
authors.affiliation: Economic Science, University of Burgos, Burgos, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Camino López
authors.forename: Dale O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Ritzel
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fontaneda González
authors.forename: Oscar J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: González Alcántara
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult