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/ ;?.3t Injuries Resulting TISTICS n | ic i ii u i L - C f b KJ I Bureau of. Labor Statistics August 1984 */ Injuries Resulting From Falls on Stairs U.S. Department of Labor Raymond J. Donovan, Secretary Bureau of Labor Statistics Janet L. Norwood, Commissioner August 1984 Bulletin 2214 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Preface This bulletin summarizes the results of a survey of workers who were injured by slips or falls on stairs. The findings of this survey, which was conducted dur ing the period from December 1981 through April 1982, will assist the Occupational Safety and Health Admin istration (OSHA) in developing safety standards, com pliance strategy, and training programs for reducing work-related injuries. The survey was conducted by the Bureau’s Office of Occupational Safety and Health Statistics, in coopera tion with the following States: Arizona, Arkansas, Cali fornia, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mon tana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyo ming. BLS regional offices coordinated State opera tions. The OSHA Offices of Compliance, Standards Development, Statistical Studies and Analysis, Regula tory Analysis, and Training as well as the Office of Safety Research of the National Institute for Occupa tional Safety and Health contributed to the planning and development of the survey. The analysis of the sur vey findings was prepared by Larry Jones and Helen McDonald. Lyn Pearson developed computer tabula tions. The survey was directed by Helen McDonald under the supervision of Herbert Schaffer. The data collected in the survey indicate how and why injuries occurred among the workers studied in the cooperating States. However, the user should ex ercise caution in extrapolating the data to population estimates because of limitations of the survey. States participating in data collection may not represent the country as a whole; government and mining industries are not included; reporting requirements for workers’ compensation reports, the source documents for select ing injuries for study, vary among States; and the data collection period is not intended to represent the entire year. Incidence rates of the injuries studied were not gen erated, nor can they be inferred from the data because information on hours of work for the survey period is not available. See appendix A for scope and methodol ogy of the survey. A list of other Work Injury Reports published since 1978 appears at the end of this bulletin. Material in this publication is in the public domain and, with appropriate credit, may be reproduced with out permission. Contents Page Survey results................................................................................................................................... 1 Chart 1: Percent distribution of all workers and workers who fell on stairs by occupation........ 2 Tables: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981 -April 1982: 1. Nature of injury........................................................................................................... 2. Part of body affected.................................................................................................... 3. Estimated days away from w o rk .................................................................................. 4. Length of hospitalization required............................................................................... 5. Activity at time of accident........................................................................................... 6. Description of accident................................................................................................ 7. Description of stairs...................................................................................................... 8. Hazardous conditions andother factors contributing to accident.............................. 9. Industry classification.................................................................................................. 10. Size of company............................................................................................................ 11. Age of worker................................................................................................................ 12. Sex of w orker................................................................................................................ 13. Occupation.................................................................................................................... 14. Source of injury............................................................................................................ 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 12 13 13 13 14 14 14 Appendixes: A. Survey explanatory n o te................................................................................................... 15 B. Participating State agencies............................................................................................... 16 C. Survey questionnaire ........................................................................................................ 17 IV Survey Results Most of the incidents occurred while going down the stairs. Loss of traction caused the largest number of the accidents and, except for exterior stairs, was usually due to water or other liquids on the steps. On outdoor stairways, ice and snow were the major hazards. Over all, about three-fifths of the accidents were attributed, totally or in part, to hazardous conditions on the stairs. The fact that nearly two-thirds of the workers were not using handrails implies that some, though not all, of the accidents could have been prevented by using this safety feature. Over one-fifth of the stairs on which accidents occurred were not equipped with railings. Finally, four-fifths of the workers surveyed lost an average of 18 days away from work as a result of their accidents, indicating that falls on stairs are usually se rious and require a long recuperative period. Falls to lower levels on stairs result in nearly 33,000 disabling work injuries a year and account for 1.3 per cent of all lost-time injuries and illnesses, according to a BLS estimate.1 To obtain additional information on the causes and consequencs of these accidents, the Bu reau of Labor Statistics conducted a special study in which workers were asked to describe their activity at the time of the fall, how the accident occurred, the number of stairs they fell down, and the location of the stairs. As a measure of the severity of workers’ injuries, information was obtained on the number of days lost from work, the amount of hospitalization required, the nature of the injury, and the part of the body affected. Injured workers also provided descriptions of the stairs, including slip-resistant features, and any hazardous con ditions or other factors which may have contributed to their falls. In addition to stair accidents classified as falls to lower levels, the scope of the survey included slips and falls to the same level on stairs. The survey find ings reflect the responses of 1,007 workers injured dur ing a 5-month period from December 1981 through April 1982.12 Industry, age, sex, and occupation The industry, age, and sex of workers who fell on stairs nearly matched that of all workers in the States which participated in this survey. Furthermore, this re lationship prevailed in most of the occupational groupings. The distribution of stair accidents by industry was similar to the States’ overall employment distribution. As shown below, the two exceptions were the services industry, which had proportionately more injuries, and manufacturing firms, which showed proportionately fewer injuries: Summary of survey findings Unlike many types of work-related accidents, falls on stairs occurred with about the same frequency among different groups of workers. Comparisons of workers who slipped or fell on stairs with the general working population indicated that age was not a factor in these accidents. The industry distribution and male/female ratios of the injured workers showed that the service industries and women workers were somewhat over represented. However, the major difference appeared in the occupational distributions. Service workers, waiters and waitresses included, have a higher risk of accidents on stairs, probably reflecting their frequent use of stairs in serving customers. ______ Percent_________ A ll workers3 Workers who fell on stairs T o ta l........................................................ 100 100 C onstruction.................................................. Manufacturing................................................ Transportation and public u tilitie s........... Wholesale trade............................................. Retail trade...................................................... Finance, insurance, and reale sta te .......... Services............................................................ Other................................................................. 5 27 6 7 21 7 24 3 6 21 8 7 19 9 29 1 Industry division 1Estimates o f the total number o f disabling injuries resulting from falls on stairs were derived from 1980 BLS Supplementary Data Sys tem disability files and the 1980 Annual Survey of Occupational In juries and Illnesses, and limited to private sector data. The propor tion o f disabling cases involving falls on stairs (SD S data) was mul tiplied by the number o f lost workday injuries and illnesses (annual survey data) to produce an estimate o f the total number o f disabling injuries for falls on stairs. 2See appendix A for scope o f survey. 3 “All Workers” is an annual average and is derived either from the BLS-State Employment and Earnings Survey data or from State un employment insurance program data. 1 Nearly two-thirds of the workers were not using handrails when they fell. The most frequent explana tions for this were lack of railings on the entire stair case or at the particular spot where the accident oc curred. One-sixth of the workers indicated that, due to objects being carried, they were unable to hold the railing, and about one-tenth of the workers felt, at least prior to their accident, that using the handrail was unnecessary. Age distributions of the injured workers and of all workers were nearly identical in these States, as shown below using unpublished BLS data from the Current Population Survey, 1982: Age 19 or le s s........................ 2 0 -24.............................. 2 5 -34.............................. 35-44.............................. 4 5 -5 4 .............................. 55-64 .............................. 65 or m o r e ................... Percent Workers who All workers fell on stairs 8 13 29 21 16 11 3 6 15 30 19 15 12 2 Description of the accident Over three-fifths of the accidents occurred when the worker’s foot slipped on the step or off the edge of the step (table 6). About 1 out of 10 workers caught their shoe heels, and a similar proportion either tripped on the step or slipped or tripped on objects (as opposed to the step surface). Other falls were initiated by actions solely related to bodily motion such as turning or twist ing a foot or missing a step. Three-fifths of the workers fell to the landing or bot tom of the stairs. About 1 out of 4 workers stopped Falls on stairs were almost evenly divided between men and women, 51 and 49 percent, respectively, al though men represented a larger proportion of all workers employed in these States, 56 percent.4 The largest differences between the injured workers and all workers were reflected in two occupational groups. As indicated in chart 1, service workers, in cluding waiters, waitresses, and other food service em ployees, accounted for the largest proportion of workers injured, 22 percent, while representing only 14 percent of all workers. Conversely, professional and technical workers constituted a higher proportion of all workers but experienced relatively fewer accidents. Chart 1. Percent distribution of all workers and workers who fell on stairs by occupation P ro fe ssio na l, te ch n ica l, and kindred w orkers Injuries, hospitalization, and lost workdays Muscle sprains or strains, the most common injuries, were sustained by 64 percent of the workers who fell (table 1). Next in frequency were bruises or contusions, 38 percent, and fractures, 20 percent. Thirty-three percent of the injuries were to the lower extremities, most commonly the ankle or knee (table 2). Thirty percent of the workers received injuries to the trunk, particularly the back, while 23 percent of the accidents resulted in injuries involving multiple body parts. Eighty percent of the workers surveyed lost days away from work as a result of their injuries (table 3). The average lost-time case resulted in 18 days away from work. Twelve percent of the workers indicated that they were hospitalized overnight after the accident, with an average hospital stay of 7 nights (table 4). M anagers and a d m in is tra to rs Sales w orkers C le rica l and kindred w orkers C ra ft and kindred w orkers O peratives, ex clu d in g transport T ra n sp o rt e q u ip m ent o p e ra tive s Laborers, in c lu d ing farm Activity at the time of the accident Service w orkers Over four-fifths of the workers were going down the stairs when the accident occurred (table 5). Relatively few workers, 5 percent, indicated they were running at the time of their fall. About three-fifths of the workers were carrying objects while using the stairs. Most workers were familiar with the stairs since 9 out of 10 had used the stairs before the accident. 0 5 10 15 20 25 Percent C 2 A ll w orkers W orkers who fe ll on s ta irs 4Current Population Survey, 1982, unpublished BLS data. 2 cent were wood. Fifteen percent were covered with carpeting or runners. Nearly one-third of the workers indicated that the stairs had slip-resistant features, such as a rough sur face, nonskid strips, or slip-resistant paint. However, workers who fell on these stairs slipped almost as fre quently as workers on stairs without these safety fea tures. A cross-tabulation indicated that slips were the initial event in 66 percent of the falls on stairs without slip-resistant features. However, slips also caused 59 percent of the falls on stairs with slip-resistant devices. Some workers explained that the slip-resistant strips or paint had worn over time and offered little traction. In other instances, the steps, including the slip-resistant features, were covered with ice or snow. falling prior to reaching the landing. Most of the re maining workers either fell upward or to the same level or managed to stop their fall but were still injured in the process. Falls over the side of the stairs accounted for 1 percent of the injuries. Because of the varying lengths of staircases, workers were asked to indicate the number of steps they fell down, rather than whether they fell from the top or middle of the staircase. The largest proportion of falls, 38 percent, were two to four steps in distance, followed by falls involving five to eight steps, 22 percent. Thir teen percent of the workers fell down nine or more steps. The remaining workers fell down one step, fell upwards or, as noted above, did not actually fall. Location and description of the stairs More than one-fourth of the falls occurred on exte rior stairs, reflecting, in part, the adverse weather con ditions during the winter months of the survey period (table 7). Among the accidents which occurred on in terior stairs, the most frequent locations were: Office or public buildings, 25 percent; industrial buildings such as factories or warehouses, 21 percent; and stores, res taurants, or hotels, 17 percent (table 7). Slightly more than one-fifth of the staircases were not equipped with handrails, most frequently exterior stairs or those located in stores, restaurants, or hotels. About one-third of the stairs were enclosed by walls on both sides and a similar proportion were open on one side. A typical step has a height (rise) of 7 to 8 inches and depth of 10 to 12 inches. Workers who provided meas urements of the stairs indicated that 15 percent of the step risers were higher than normal and 22 percent were less than 10 inches deep. About one-fifth of the stairs had open backs. The staircases on which the accidents occurred were divided into four size groups. Staircases with 2 to 4 steps accounted for 19 percent of the accident sites; 5 to 8 steps, 26 percent; 9 to 12 steps, 27 percent; and more than 12 steps, 22 percent. Thirty-eight percent of the stairs had a surface com posed of concrete, stone, brick, or marble, and 20 per Conditions or factors contributing to the accident Over three-fifths of the workers noted hazardous con ditions on the stairs and, with few exceptions, indicated that these conditions contributed to their accident (ta ble 8). Slippery surfaces were by far the most common hazard, cited in 42 percent of the accidents. As shown below, two-fifths of the slippery surfaces were the re sult of winter weather. Less than one-fifth were attrib uted to the step surface itself: Condition Percent Total with slippery su rfaces............... 100 Ice or sn o w ...................................................... Grease or o il.................................................... Water or other liquids................................... Step surface or covering.............................. Other................................................................. 40 6 35 17 2 Inadequate lighting, worn or uneven steps, and bro ken steps were each cited as causal factors by 5 to 7 percent of the workers. Other contributing factors cited frequently by workers were the shoes they were wearing, 14 percent; not paying attention to where they were going, 12 percent; not being able to see where they stepped, 10 percent; and moving too fast, 9 percent. 3 Table 1. Nature of injury: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Nature of injury Number Percent Total 1............................................................................................. 1,007 0 Fracture................................................................................................. Cut, laceration, or puncture................................................................. Bruise or contusion.............................................................................. Muscle sprain, strain, or torn ligaments............................................. Concussion........................................................................................... O th e r.................................................................................................... 206 96 378 643 25 73 1 Because more than 1 response is possible, the sum of the responses and percentages may not equal the total. Per centages are calculated by dividing each response by the total number of persons who answered the question. 4 20 10 38 64 2 7 NOTE: See appendix A for the scope of the survey. Because incomplete ques tionnaires were used, the total number of responses may vary by question. SOURCE: Survey questionnaire. Table 2. Part of body affected: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Number Percent Total .............................................................................................. 1,007 100 Head..................................................................................................... Head, uns....................................................................................... 21 4 1 2 8 1 1 2 2 1 1 3 3 0 o 0 o o 0 0 0 4 (’) Upper extremities ................................................................................ Arm(s)............................................................................................ Arm, uns....................................................................................... Upper a rm ................................................................................... Elbow.......................................................................................... Forearm....................................................................................... Arm, multiple .............................................................................. Wrist .............................................................................................. Hand.............................................................................................. Finger(s)......................................................................................... Upper extremities, multiple........................................................... 99 41 8 3 22 7 1 21 12 14 11 10 4 1 (') 2 1 o 2 1 1 1 Trunk.................................................................................................... Abdomen ....................................................................................... Back .............................................................................................. Chest............................................................................................. Hips ............................................................................................... Shoulder(s) .................................................................................... Trunk, multiple .............................................................................. Trunk, n.e.c..................................................................................... 305 4 186 28 32 26 28 1 30 (1) 18 3 3 3 3 o Lower extremities ................................................................................ Leg(s) ............................................................................................ Leg, uns....................................................................................... Thigh........................................................................................... Knee ........................................................................................... Lower leg .................................................................................... Leg, multiple............................................................................... Ankle ............................................................................................. F o o t............................................................................................... Toe(s)............................................................................................ Lower extremities, multiple........................................................... 335 121 13 3 93 8 4 136 52 3 23 33 12 1 o 9 1 0 14 5 O 2 Multiple parts....................................................................................... 231 23 Body parts, n.e.c................................................................................... 3 Nonclassifiable.................................................................................... 9 Part of body Eye(s)............................................................................................ Face .............................................................................................. Face, uns..................................................................................... Mouth .......................................................................................... N o se ........................................................................................... Face, multiple parts.................................................................... Head, multiple............................................................................... Head, n.e.c..................................................................................... 1 Less than 0.5 percent. n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified. uns. = unspecified. NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages 2 (') o (') 1 O 1 may not add to 100. See appendix A for the scope of the survey. SOURCE: State workers’ compensation reports. 5 Table 3. Estimated days away from work: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Number Days away from work Percent Total ............................................................................................... 977 100 No days away from work .................................................................... 1 to 5 d a ys........................................................................................... 6 to 10 da ys......................................................................................... 11 to 15 days....................................................................................... 16 to 20 days....................................................................................... 21 to 25 days....................................................................................... 26 to 30 days....................................................................................... 31 to 40 days....................................................................................... 41 to 60 days....................................................................................... More than 60 days.............................................................................. 195 285 134 61 42 32 35 35 60 37 20 29 14 6 4 3 4 4 6 4 Lost time cases for which days away from work were not estimated........................................................................................... 61 6 Mean days away from work per lost-workday c a s e .......................... 18 Median days away from work per lost-workday c a s e ....................... 9 number of responses may vary question. SOURCE: Survey questionnaire. NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. See appendix A for the scope of the survey. Because incom plete questionnaires were used, the total by Table 4. Length of hospitalization required: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Number Percent Total ...................................................................................... 1,000 100 No hospitalization required......................................................... 1 n ig h t.......................................................................................... 2 nights........................................................................................ 3 nights........................................................................................ 4 nights........................................................................................ 5 nights........................................................................................ 6 nights........................................................................... ,........... 7 nights........................................................................................ 8 nights........................................................................................ 9 nights........................................................................................ 10 nights...................................................................................... 11 to 20 nights ............................................................................ 21 to 30 nights ............................................................................ 877 12 9 14 11 11 6 7 2 4 11 24 3 88 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 Hospitalized cases for which length of hospitalization was not estimated.................................................................................. 9 1 Length of hospitalization*1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Mean length (nights) of hospitalization per hospitalized case .. 7 Median length (nights) of hospitalization per hospitalized case 6 plete questionnaires were used, the total number of responses may vary by question. SOURCE: Survey questionnaire. 1 Less than 0.5 percent. NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. See appendix A for the scope of the survey. Because incom 6 Table 5. Activity at time of accident: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Number Percent Total ............................................................................................... 1,006 100 Walking .......................................................................................... Running.......................................................................................... Going up stairs .................................................................................... Walking .......................................................................................... Running.......................................................................................... Working on stairs (for example: cleaning stairs)................................ O th e r..................................................................................................... 837 783 34 946 143 20 17 9 83 78 3 94 14 2 2 1 Total ............................................................................................... 981 100 Moving forw ard.................................................................................... Moving backward.................................................................................. 961 20 98 2 Total ............................................................................................... 1,004 100 Not holding object(s)............................................................................ Holding object(s) with both hands ...................................................... Holding object(s) with one hand ......................................................... 431 221 352 43 22 35 Total ............................................................................................... 989 100 Holding handrail................................................................................... Not holding handrail............................................................................. No handrail on stairs......................................................................... Hands were not free to hold on to handrail ................................... Let go of rail for a moment.............................................................. There was no rail at that s p o t......................................................... Rail was out of reach........................................................................ Did not think it was necessary ........................................................ Other reason ..................................................................................... Don’t remember................................................................................... 306 620 204 155 53 20 45 110 33 63 31 63 21 16 5 2 5 11 3 6 Total ............................................................................................... 987 100 First time worker used these stairs..................................................... Less than once a d a y .......................................................................... 1 to 4 times a d a y ............................................................................... 5 to 10 times a d a y.............................................................................. More than 10 time a d a y..................................................................... 92 163 371 193 168 9 17 38 20 17 Activity General activity at time of accident Direction of worker movement on stairs Holding object(s) at time of accident Use of handrails at time of fall How often worker normally uses stairs involved in accident NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. See appendix A for the scope of the survey. Because incomplete questionnaires were used, the total number of responses may vary question. SOURCE: Survey questionnaire, 7 by Table 6. Description of accident: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Number Description of accident Percent How accident occurred Initial event Total .......................................................... 994 100 Tripped or slipped on object(s) lying on stairs Tripped on s te p ............................................... Caught h e e l..................................................... Slipped on step or slipped off edge of step ... Foot turned or twisted .................................... Lost balance.................................................... Pushed or knocked down steps..................... Missed a step .................................................. O th e r................................................................ 32 72 88 621 43 50 4 60 24 3 7 9 62 4 5 (’) 6 2 306 (2) 1 30 18 45 103 172 (’) 10 6 15 34 56 36 3 12 1 Total ................................................................................. ,007 100 Fell down to landing or bottom of stairs............................... Fell part way down sta irs....................................................... Fell up the stairs or to the same le ve l.................................. Fell over side of stairs or railing to surface b e low .............. Did not fall to surface (caught railing and stopped fall, etc.) O th e r....................................................................................... 603 238 78 9 77 2 60 24 8 1 8 (’) ,001 100 165 104 379 216 86 39 12 16 10 38 22 9 4 1 Intermediate event(s) T otal2........................................................ Tripped or slipped on object(s) lying on stairs Tripped on s te p ............................................... Caught h e e l..................................................... Slipped on step or slipped off edge of step .... Foot turned or twisted .................................... Lost balance.................................................... Pushed or knocked down steps..................... Missed a step .................................................. O th e r................................................................ Final event Number of steps worker fell down Total ............................................ None (fell up stairs, over side, etc.) .. One s te p ............................................ 2 to 4 steps........................................ 5 to 8 steps........................................ 9 to 12 steps...................................... More than 12 steps........................... Don’t know ......................................... NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. See appendix A for the scope of the survey. Because incom plete questionnaires were used, the total number of responses may vary by question. SOURCE: Survey questionnaire. ' Less than 0.5 percent. 2 Because more than 1 response is possible, the sum of the responses and percentages may not equal the total. Per centages are calculated by dividing each response by the total number of persons who answered the question. 8 Table 7. Description of stairs: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Number Percent Total .............................................................................................. 1,004 100 In an office or public building ............................................................. In a store, restaurant, or hotel............................................................ In an industrial building (factory, warehouse, plant, etc.) ................. In a house or other residential building.............................................. Outside................................................................................................. In a building under construction......................................................... Other location ...................................................................................... 247 173 206 61 275 17 25 25 17 21 6 27 2 2 Total .............................................................................................. 989 100 Enclosed by walls on both sides ....................................................... Enclosed by wall on one side ............................................................ Open on both sides ............................................................................ O th e r.................................................................................................... 339 357 270 23 34 36 27 2 Total .............................................................................................. 961 100 Less than 2 fe e t.................................................................................. 2 to 4 feet ............................................................................................ 5 to 8 feet ............................................................................................ More than 8 fe e t.................................................................................. 62 680 197 22 6 71 20 2 Total ........................................................................................ 974 100 Less than 7 inches........................................................................ 7 to 8 inches................................................................................. More than 8 inches....................................................................... Don’t know .................................................................................... 131 542 82 219 13 56 8 22 Total ........................................................................................ 102 100 Less than 7 inches........................................................................ 7 to 8 inches................................................................................. More than 8 inches....................................................................... 28 59 15 27 58 15 Description of stairs Location of stairs Wall enclosures Width of stairs Height of step (rise) Estimated or measured height Measured height only See footnotes at end of table. 9 Table 7. Description of stairs: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982—Continued Number Description of stairs Percent Depth of tread Estimated or measured depth Total ........................................................................................ 967 100 Less than 10 inches...................................................................... 10 to 12 inches............................................................................. More than 12 inches..................................................................... Spiral stairs (depth varies) ........................................................... Don’t kn o w .................................................................................... 221 471 50 8 217 23 49 5 1 22 Total ........................................................................................ 102 100 Less than 10 inches...................................................................... 10 to 12 inches............................................................................. More than 12 inches..................................................................... 22 67 13 22 66 13 Total .............................................................................................. 989 100 Closed.................................................................................................. Open .................................................................................................... 768 221 78 22 Total .............................................................................................. 976 100 Stairs with nosing ................................................................................ Stairs without nosing........................................................................... Don’t kn o w ........................................................................................... 255 471 250 26 48 26 Total .............................................................................................. 251 100 About 1 in ch ......................................................................................... More than 1 in c h ................................................................................. Don’t kn o w ........................................................................................... 167 36 48 67 14 19 Total .............................................................................................. 997 100 Carpet .................................................................................................. Runner ................................................................................................. Concrete, stone, brick, or marble....................................................... Metal or metal grate ........................................................................... W ood.................................................................................................... T ile ........................................................................................................ Other .................................................................................................... Don’t kn o w .......................................................................................... 128 20 380 132 198 73 37 29 13 2 38 13 20 7 4 3 Measured depth only Back of steps Nosing on stairs Depth of nosing Surface of the steps See footnotes at end of table. 10 Table 7. Description of stairs: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982—Continued Number Description of stairs Percent Slip-resistant features Total 1............................................................................................. 978 Nonslip-mats ........................................................................................ Nonskid-strips ...................................................................................... Slip-resistant paint............................................................................... Roughened surface............................................................................. O th e r.................................................................................................... None..................................................................................................... Don’t k n o w ........................................................................................... 32 81 18 154 31 520 144 3 8 2 16 3 53 15 Total ............................................................................................... 991 100 No handrails......................................................................................... Handrails on one sid e .......................................................................... Handrails on both sides....................................................................... Handrails on both sides and down the center.................................. 204 432 343 12 21 44 35 1 Total ............................................................................................... 992 100 2 to 4 steps.......................................................................................... 5 to 8 steps.......................................................................................... 9 to 12 steps........................................................................................ More than 12 steps............................................................................. Don’t kn o w ........................................................................................... 188 255 265 216 68 19 26 27 22 0 Handrails on stairs Number of steps in the staircase 1 Because more than 1 response is possible, the sum of the responses and percentages may not equal the total. Per centages are calculated by dividing each response by the total number of persons who answered the question. NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages 7 may not add to 100. See appendix A for the scope of the survey. Because incom plete questionnaires were used, the total number of responses may vary by question. SOURCE: Survey questionnaire. 11 Table 8. Hazardous conditions and other factors contributing to accident: injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Number Conditions or factors Percent Hazardous conditions on stairs Total 1............................................................................................. 986 No hazardous conditions..................................................................... Steps broken or in bad condition........................................................ Slippery surface................................................................................... Torn or loose covering ........................................................................ Objects on stairway.............................................................................. Inadequate lighting............................................................................... Steps uneven or worn dow n............................................................... Loose or broken handrail.................................................................... Steps unevenly spaced ....................................................................... O th e r..................................................................................................... 378 46 417 22 37 70 59 9 15 72 38 5 42 2 4 7 6 1 2 7 Total ............................................................................................... 588 100 Hazardous condition(s) did not contribute to accident...................... Hazardous condition(s) did contribute to accident............................ 27 561 5 95 Total ............................................................................................... 995 100 Shoes did not contribute to accident ................................................. Shoes did contribute to accident ........................................................ Don’t k n o w ........................................................................................... 716 138 141 72 14 14 (') Hazardous conditions as factors contributing to accident (stairs with hazardous conditions only) Shoes as factors contributing to accident Other factors contributing to accident Total 1............................................................................................. 962 Walking too fast, running, or taking 2 steps at a tim e ...................... Thought stairs were steeper than norm al.......................................... Carrying object that was too big, too heavy, or which shifted position............................................................................................... Felt landing too small .......................................................................... Unable to see where you were stepping ........................................... Unable to hold handrail ....................................................................... Not paying close attention to where you were going........................ Was tired or fatigued ........................................................................... Had physical condition which contributed to the accident............... Distracted by person on the stairs, noise, etc.................................... O th e r.................................................................................................... Nothing else contributed to accident.................................................. 85 36 9 4 78 6 94 74 116 65 18 37 31 503 8 1 10 8 12 7 2 4 3 52 1 Because more than 1 response is possible, the sum of the responses and percentages may not equal the total. Percentages are calculated by dividing each response by the total number of persons who answered the question. NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages (’) may not add to 100. See appendix A for the scope of the survey. Because incomplete questionnaires were used, the total number of responses may vary by question. SOURCE: Survey questionnaire. 12 Table 9. Industry classification: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Total .............................................................................................. Wholesale trade................................................................................... Services............................................................................................... Other industries, n.e.c.......................................................................... Number Percent 1,007 100 5 4 60 210 84 (') (’) 6 21 8 69 196 87 291 1 7 19 9 29 0 may not add to 100. See appendix A for the scope of the survey. SOURCE: State workers’ compensation reports. 1 Less than 0.5 percent. 2 Limited to oil and gas extraction, n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified. NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages Table 10. Size of company: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Size of company Number Percent Number of people employed in worker’s company Total .............................................................................................. 956 100 1 to 10 ................................................................................................. 11 to 49 ............................................................................................... 159 228 120 218 231 17 24 13 23 24 50 to 99 ............................................................................................... 100 to 499 ........................................................................................... 500 or m ore......................................................................................... number of responses may vary question. SOURCE: Survey questionnaire. NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. See appendix A for the scope of the survey. Because incom plete questionnaires were used, the total by Table 11. Age of worker: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, Decem ber 1981-April 1982 Age Number Percent Total .............................................................................................. 1,007 100 15-19 years ......................................................................................... 20-24 years ......................................................................................... 25-34 years ......................................................................................... 35-44 years ......................................................................................... 45-54 years ......................................................................................... 55-64 years ......................................................................................... 65 years or m ore................................................................................. Not available....................................................................................... 64 150 293 190 153 117 24 16 6 15 29 19 15 12 2 2 NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. See appendix A for the scope of the survey. SOURCE: State workers’ compensation reports, 13 Table 12. Sex of worker: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Sex Number Percent Total .............................................................................................. 1,007 100 Men ...................................................................................................... Women................................................................................................. 517 490 51 49 NOTE: See appendix A for the scope of the survey. SOURCE: State workers’ compensation reports. Table 13. Occupation: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Occupation Number Percent Total .............................................................................................. 1,007 100 Professional, technical, and kindred workers.................................... Managers and administrators, excluding farm ................................... Salesworkers........................................................................................ Clerical and kindred w orkers.............................................................. Craft and kindred workers................................................................... Operatives, excluding transport.......................................................... 70 93 63 184 129 117 7 g 6 18 13 12 Transport equipment operatives......................................................... Laborers, excluding fa rm ..................................................................... Farm laborers and farm laborer supervisors..................................... Service workers, excluding private household.................................. Private household workers.................................................................. Nonclassifiable..................................................................................... 65 59 5 218 1 3 6 6 1 Less than 0.5 percent. NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. See appendix A for o 22 (’) O the scope of the survey. SOURCE: State workers’ compensation reports. Table 14. Source of injury: Injuries resulting from falls on stairs, selected States, December 1981-April 1982 Source of injury Number Percent Total .............................................................................................. 1,007 100 Bodily motion ....................................................................................... Boilers, pressure vessels..................................................................... Boxes, barrels, containers................................................................... Buildings and structures...................................................................... Furniture, fixtures, etc........................................................................... 53 1 3 5 2 5 o (’) (') (’) Handtools, not powered ...................................................................... Handtools, powered............................................................................ Hoisting apparatus............................................................................... Liquids, n.e.c......................................................................................... Metal item s.......................................................................................... 1 1 1 Vehicles ............................................................................................... Working surfaces................................................................................. F lo o r.............................................................................................. Ground .......................................................................................... Sidewalks, paths, etc..................................................................... Stairs, steps................................................................................... Working surfaces, n.e.c.................................................................. Person.................................................................................................. Nonclassifiable..................................................................................... 1 Less than 0.5 percent. n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified. NOTE: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. See appendix A for 1 3 (') 0 (') (’) (') 1 933 25 13 (') 93 2 1 (’) 89 O 0 0 893 1 1 1 1 the scope of the survey. SOURCE: State workers' compensation reports. 14 Appendix A. Survey Explanatory Note others limit reporting to cases involving lost time rang ing from 1 to 8 days. No attempt was made to weight the data collected so that they would be representative of all falls on stairs. Although participating States provided a broad geo graphical and industrial mix, they were not selected statistically to represent the country as a whole. Moreo ver, collection for the survey was terminated when re sponses exceeded 750 cases. Questionnaires returned by the injured workers were reviewed for completeness and response errors. Re sponses to question J.l (type of surface) were classified by BLS. Estimates of mean and median lost workdays and nights of hospitalization do not include cases in which workers indicated lost time or hospitalization but failed to provide numerical estimates of the amount of time. All usable responses on incomplete questionnaires were used in the tabulations. Consequently, response rates vary among questions. No attempt was made to adjust the data for nonresponse. Information on the employer’s industry classification and the worker’s age, sex, part of body injured, and source of injury were classified and tabulated for all respondents based on information furnished by the em ployer in the workers’ compensation report. Numerical values shown in tables were actual counts while percentages were rounded to the nearest whole number. The survey was designed to develop information on injuries resulting from slips and falls to workers on stairs. The scope of the survey extended to all indus tries except coal, metallic and nonmetallic mining, and government. All occupations were included in the scope of the survey. Falls from curbs or similar structures having only one step, escalators, portable or folding stairs, and stairs on vehicles were excluded. In addition, falls resulting from the structural collapse of the stair way, explosions, or assualts were not included. Cases were also excluded from the survey if the injury re sulted in a fatality or if more than 120 days had elapsed between the time of injury and the beginning of the survey. The survey covered the 24 States which are listed in appendix B. To identify cases within the scope of the survey, staff of participating State agencies reviewed employers’ reports of injuries required by State workers’ compensation laws and mailed questionnaires to injured workers selected for study. Cooperation was requested on a voluntary basis. During the survey period, De cember 1981-April 1982, 1,007 survey questionnaires were returned and found to be within the scope of the survey, resulting in a 64-percent response rate. Although the data were aggregated for all partici pating States, it should be noted that the workers’ com pensation cases selected for study reflect differences in reporting requirements. For example, some States re quire reporting of workers’ compensation cases involv ing medical treatment regardless of lost time, while 15 Appendix B. Participating State Agencies Relations Montana Department of Labor and Industry Nebraska Workmen’s Compensation Court North Carolina Industrial Commission Ohio Industrial Commission Tennessee Department of Labor Utah Industrial Commission Vermont Department of Labor and Industry Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Washington Department of Labor and Industries Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor, and Human Relations Wyoming Department of Labor and Statistics Arizona Industrial Commission Arkansas Department of Labor California Department of Industrial Relations Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Delaware Department of Labor Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Indiana Division of Labor Iowa Bureau of Labor Kentucky Department of Labor Maine Department of Labor Maryland Department of Licensing and Regulation Michigan Department of Labor Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial 16 Appendix C. Survey Questionnaire Bureau of Labor Statistics Work Injury Report—Falls On Stairs The inform a tio n collected on th is form by the Bureau o f Labor Statistics and the State Agencies cooperating in its statistical program w ill be held in confidence and w ill be used fo r statistical purposes o nly. 1. 2. This report is authorized by law 2 9 U.S.C. 2. Your voluntary cooperation is needed to make the results o f this survey comprehensive, accurate, and timely. H. What were you doing at the time of your accident? (Check one.) 0 W a lk in g up stairs □ 0 4. 0 5. 0 3. Were you carrying or holding anything at the time of your accident? (Check one.) W a lk in g d o w n stairs 1. □ R u n n in g up stairs 2. O W o rk in g o n stairs (fo r exam ple: clean in g stairs) Other: (Describe) 1. □ No 2. □ 0 0 3. 0 4. 0 □ Less th an o n ce a day 3. G 1 t o 4 tim es a day 1.2 0 5 to 10 tim e s a day 1. 0 5. 0 M o re than 10 tim e s a day 2. 3. D. How did your accident occur? (Check all that apply.) 4. 5. T rip p e d or slip p e d o n object(s) ly in g on stairs: (D escribe) _______________________________ 6. T rip p e d on step 7. 8. 3. □ C a u g h t heel 4. 0 S lip p e d on step o r slip p e d o f f edge o f step Yes—on one side Y e s —o n b o th sides Y es—on both sides and down the center If there were handrails on the staircase, were you holding on to the rail when you started to fall? (Check one.) 4. □ No 2. Yes (Describe object) _ Were there handrails on the stairs? (Check one.) 1. C. How often do you normally use these stairs? (Check one.) 1. 0 F ir s t tim e you used these stairs 2. (Describe object) -------------------------- Y e s —h o ld in g object(s) w it h one han d o n ly : 1.1 1. Y e s —h o ld in g object(s) w ith b o th hands: B. Were you moving backwards as you were going up or down the stairs? 2_ 0 No □ R u n n in g d o w n stairs 6. □ J.1 Yes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N o —hands w ere n o t free to h o ld o n to rail N o —le t go o f rail fo r a m o m e n t N o —th ere w as n o rail at th a t sp o t N o —rail was o u t o f reach N o —did not think It was necessary N o —o th e r reason: (Describe) _____________________________ D o n 't rem em ber Did the stairs have any hazardous conditions? (Check all that apply.) 5. 0 F o o t turned or twisted 6. 0 L o s t balance 7. CD Pushed o r k n o c k e d d o w n steps 2. 0 0 S lip p e ry surface: 8. 0 M issed a step 3. O T o r n o r lo o se co ve rin g 9. □ O ther: 4. 0 0 0 0 0 0 O bje cts on stairw ay 1. (Describe) __________________________________________ 5. E. If you checked more than one response in question D , which event occurred first? (Check one.) 1. 0 0 3. 0 4. 0 5. 0 2. 6. 7. Tripped or slipped on object(s) lying on stairs T rip p e d on step Caught heel 8. 9. L o s t balance 7. 0 Pushed or k n o c k e d d o w n steps 8. □ M issed a step 9. □ O th e r J. er w o rn d o w n L o o se or b ro k e n ha n d ra il Steps un evenly spaced O ther: (Describe) _______________________________________ N o hazardo us c o n d itio n s K. Did the shoes you were wearing contribute to your accident? 1. 0 D o w n to lan d in g o r b o tto m o f stairs 2. Pa rt w a y d o w n th e stairs 1. o No 2. O Yes: 3. 0 D o n 't k n o w (E x p la in ) __________________________________________ L. Did anything else contribute to your accident? (Check all that apply.) U p th e stairs or to th e same level O ver side o f stairs o r ra ilin g to surface b e lo w D id n o t fa ll to surface (caught railin g and sto p p ed fa ll, etc.) other: 2 If the stairs had any hazardous conditions, did they contribute to your accident? 0 No 2. 0 Y es: (Explain) --------------------------------------- 1. F. Where did you fall to? (Check one.) Q (Describe) ______________________________ Inadequate lig h tin g Steps uneven 0 10. F o o t turned or twisted □ 0 0 5. 0 6. 0 Steps b ro k e n o r in bad c o n d itio n S lip p e d on step or slip p e d o f f edge o f step 6. 3. 4. Form Approved O.M.B. No. 1220-0047 A pproval Expires 6 /3 0 /8 2 Date o f A ccide n t Case Number State A. U.S. Department of Labor (Describe) 1. 0 W a lk in g to o fast, ru n n in g o r ta k in g 2 steps at a tim e 2. 3. 0 Thought stairs were steeper than normal 0 C a rry in g o b je ct th a t w as to o big, to o heavy o r w h ic h sh ifte d position 4. G.1 About how many steps did you fall down? (Check one.) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 F e lt la n d in g to o sm all: (Describe) ---------------------------------- 5. 0 U n a b le to see w he re you w ere stepp ing None 6. 0 U n a b le t o h o ld ha n d ra il One step 2 to 4 steps 7. 0 8. 0 5 to 8 steps 9. 0 10. O D istracte d by person o n th e stairs, noise, etc. 11. 0 O ther: 12. 0 N o th in g else c o n tr ib u t e d to a c c id e n t N o t paying closa attention to where you were going Was tired or fatigued H a d p h y sica l c o n d itio n w h ic h c o n tr ib u te d to th e a ccid e n t: 9 to 12 steps M o r e th an 12 steps (indicate approximate number __ ) (Describe) .............................................. ................................ D o n't know (Describe) G.2 How many steps were there in the staircase? (Check one.) 0 0 3. 0 4. 0 1. 2. 5. 0 2 to 4 steps 5 to 8 steps 9 t o 12 steps (indicate approximate number o f steps between landings _____ M o r e than 12 steps ) D on't know CONTINUE ON REVERSE SIDE B L S 9 8 D (March 1982) 17 M. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. S. Were the backs of the steps open (see picture)? Where were the stairs located? (Check one.) 0 In an o ffic e o r p u b lic b u ild in g 0 In a store, restaurant or hotel 0 In an industrial building (factory, warehouse, plant, etc.) 0 In a h o u se o r o th e r residen tial building □ Outside [ ] In a building under construction 0 Other lo c a tio n : (D escribe)___________________________ 1. 0 2. 0 T. Did the stairs have nosing (see picture)? (Check one.) 1. 0 2. 0 3. 0 N. 1. 2. 3. 4. N o — closed Yes— open Y e s— h o w deep was the nosing: 1. 0 A b o u t 1 inch 2. 0 M ore than 1 inch 3. 0 D o n 't kn o w No D o n 't kn o w | Were the stairs enclosed by walls? (Check one.) Q Yes— on both sides 0 Yes— on one side 0 N o — open on both sides 0 Other: (D escrib e )____________________ U. What was the surface of the steps? (Check one.) ----- 1. 0 2. 0 3. 0 4. 0 5. 0 6. O 7. 0 8. 0 \ Open ---- Nosing * i___________ YZ2) Closed Carpet Runner Concrete, stone, brick or m arble Metal or metal grate W oo d T ile O th e r: (Describe) ______________________________________ D o n 't kn ow V . Did the steps have any slip-resistant features? (Check ell that apply.) 1. 0 2. 0 3. 0 4. 0 5. 0 6. 0 7. 0 Nosing D ep th I Nonslip mats N o nskid strips S lip -re sista n t p a in t Roughened surface (Describe) ________________________________________________ N o ne D o n 't kn ow O th e r: W. What were your injuries? (Check all that apply.) 1. 2. 3. 0 0 0 5. 0 6. 0 O. How wide were the stairs (see picture)? (Check one.) 1. 0 Less than 2 feet 2. 0 2 to 4 feet 3. 0 5 to 8 feet 4. 0 More than 8 feet P. How high was each step (see picture)? (Check one.) 1. 0 Less than 7 inches 2. 0 7 to 8 inches 3. 0 M ore than 8 inches 4. 0 D o n 't know 0 4. Fractu re(s) — In d ica te bone(s) b ro k e n (leg, rib, ankle, e t c .)______________________________________________ Cuts, lacerations or punctures Bruises, contusions M u scle sprain/stra in, to rn ligam ents Brain concussion O th e r: (Describe) ______________________________________ X . How many workdays did you (or do you expect to) lose due’to your injury? (N O TE : Do not count the day of injury, days on light duty work, normal days o ff or holidays.) _______________ W o rk d a y s I_____I____ l____ I____ I C h e c k h e r e _____If y o u d id n o t lose tim e b e y o n d th e day o f Q. How deep were the treads (see picture)? (Check one.) 1. 0 Less th a n 10 in ch es 2. 0 10 to 12 inches 3. 0 More than 12 inches 4. 0 S piral s ta irs —d e p th varies 5. 0 D o n 't kn o w in jury. Y . Did your injury require you to be hospitalized overnight? 1. 0 2. 0 No Yes If yes, h o w lo n g w ere y o u (or d o y o u e x p e c t to be) In the h o s p ita l? R. Are your responses to O , P and Q estimates or did you measure the steps? (Check one.) 1. O E stim ates 2. 0 Measurements | ________________ N ig h ts I_____I____ I------1 Z. How many people are currently employed in your company? (Check one.) 0 0 3. 0 Briefly describe how your accident occurred and how it could have been prevented. 1. 1 to 10 4. 2. 11 to 49 5. O 0 100 to 4 9 9 5 0 0 o r m o re 50 to 99 (For example, indicate if elevators or escalators were available.) Work Injury Reports Reports which may be purchased from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Services (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161: • Survey of Ladder Accidents Resulting in Injuries NTIS Accession No. PB83 207985 (1978) • Survey of Welding and Cutting Accidents Resulting in Injuries NTIS Accession No. PB83 208017 (1978) • Survey of Scaffold Accidents Resulting in Injuries NTIS Accession No. PB83 208009 (1978) • Survey of Power Saw Accidents Resulting in Injuries NTIS Accession No. PB83 207993 (1978) Reports available from the Office of Occupational Safety and Health Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Room 4014, 601 D Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20212 or regional offices: • Accidents Involving Eye Injuries Report 597 (1980) • Accidents Involving Face Injuries Report 604 (1980) • Accidents Involving Head Injuries Report 605 (1980) • Accidents Involving Foot Injuries Report 626(1981) Reports which may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402: • Injuries Related to Servicing Equipment Bulletin 2115 (1981) • Back Injuries Associated with Lifting Bulletin 2144 (1982) • Work-Related Hand Injuries and Upper Extremity Amputations Bulletin 2160 (1982) • Injuries in Oil and Gas Drilling and Services Bulletin 2179 (1983) • Injuries Resulting From Falls From Elevations Bulletin 2195 (1984) • Injuries in the Logging Industry Bulletin 2203 (1984) 19 BLS Handbook of Methods Volume I 1982 Edition BLS statistics are used for many purposes, and sometimes data well suited to one purpose may have limitations for another. 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