title: Risk assessment of fall-related occupational accidents in the workplace.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine effective assessment methods of falls in the workplace.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 436 employees (305 males and 131 females) of electrical appliance manufacturers included in this study. In 2014, a baseline survey was conducted using the fall scores questionnaire and the self-check risk assessment of falls and other accidents in the workplace (physical function measurement and questionnaire). In 2015, the occurrence of falls in the past year was investigated. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine factors relevant to falls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 62 subjects (14.2%) fell during the year, including those who fell during off-hours. The occurrence of falls during that one year was only associated with having experienced falls during the past year in the baseline survey (odds ratio [OR] 5.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5-9.7). Falls during that year were also related to the inability to walk 1 km continuously (OR 0.1; 95% CI 0.1-0.6), tripping sometimes (OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.6-9.9), step height differences at home (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.3-6.8), and working in the production section (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.1-0.5). Measurements of physical functions, such as muscle strength, balance, and agility, were not different between subjects who fell and those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that the questionnaire assessing falls during the past year could be useful to assess the risk of falls in the workplace. Annual checks for falls may contribute to fall prevention programs in the workplace.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Tsukimi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsukada
authors.forename: Hisataka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakakibara
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D066192:Manufacturing Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*