Slip, trip and falls among women of different age groups: A case study from the northern hills of India
Article Main
Abstract
Slip, trip and falls continue to be significant occupational safety concern, and causes of occupational injuries and fatalities in the workplace and daily activities. This paper shows the results of a comparative study done in the hill region of India. It explored the slip, trip and fall injuries in terms of activities leading to them and impact o f such injuries among the hill women of different age groups: young adults, middle aged and elderly. It was found that most of the slip, trip and falls were faced during the activity of carrying fodder (52.78 %), carrying firewood (49.44 %), collecting fodder (47.78 %), collecting firewood (43.89 %) and collecting dung (40.56 %). Most of the slip acci-dents were reported by elderly age group as compared to middle aged and young adults. Majority of the respond-ents got hurt their back and/or they suffered from back pain (76.67 %), faced general pain (72.22 %) and fractures (45.00 %). Most of the respondents reported the possible perceived reason for slip, trip and falls as slippery terrain (82.78 %), followed by 80.00 % of respondents who reported carrying excess load as the major reason. Other reasons reported were being rushed at work (77.77 %), awkward or unusual working posture (76.66 %).This study brings in light the dangerous working conditions of hill women, who often suffers from many injuries including slip, trip and falls even just for meeting her daily family needs such as water, fuel, fodder.
Article Details
Article Details
Keywords
Accidents, Falls, Hills, Slip, Trip
References
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Bentley, T., Tappin, D., Moore, D., Legg, S., Ashby, L. and Parker, R. (2005). Investigating slips, trips and falls in the New Zealand dairy farming sector. Ergonomics, 48(8): 1008-1019.
Berg, W. P., Alessio, H. M., Mills, E. M. and Tong, C. (1997). Circumstances and consequences of falls in independent community-dwelling older adults. Age and ageing, 26(4): 261-268
Buck, P. C. and V. P. Coleman. (1985). Slipping, Tripping and Falling Accidents at Work: A National Picture. Ergonomics, 28 (7): 949–958
Burea of Labor Statistics (2012). United States Department of Labor, National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2012.
Campbell A.J., Reinken J., Allan B.C. and Martinez G.S. (1981). Falls in old age: a study of frequency and related clinical factors. Age ageing, 10: 264-70
Cause of death in India (2001–2003). Sample registration system. New Delhi: Registrar General of India and Centre for Global Health Research; 2009. Centers for disease control and prevention. Web-based injury statistics query and reporting system (WISQARS). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/injury/ wisqars
Dandona R., Kumar G. A., Ivers R., Joshi R., Neal B. and Dandona L. (2010). Characteristics of non-fatal fall injuries in rural India. Inj Prev., 16:166– 171
Davis, Ross, P. D., Nevitt, C. and Richart D. (1999). Risk factors for falls and for serious injuries on falling among older Japanese women in Hawaii. Journal by American Geriatrics Society, 47:792-798
Donoghue, J., Graham, J., Gibbs, J. and Mitten-Lewis, S. (2003). Who, where and why:situational and environmental factors contributing to patient falls in the hospital setting. Aust Health Rev., 26(3):79-87
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). (2001). Preventing Accidents at Work. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. ISSN,1608-4144
European Commission (2008). Causes and Circumstances of Accidents at Work in the EU. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
Gao, C. and Abeysekera, J. (2004). A systems perspective of slip and fall accidents on icy and snowy surfaces. Ergonomics, 47: 573-98
Gronqvist, R. and Hirvonen, M. (1995). Slipperiness of footwear and mechanisms of walking friction on icy surfaces. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Sep; 16(3):191-200
Gururaj G., Sateesh V. and Rayan A. (2008). Bengaluru injury/road traffic injury surveillance programme: a feasibility study. Bengaluru: National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science.
Hitcho E. B., Krauss M. J., Birge S., Dunagan W. C., Fischer I., Johnson S., Nast P. A., Costantinou E. and Fraser V. J.(2004). Characteristics and Circumstances of Falls in a Hospital Setting. J. Gen.Intern. Med., 19:732-739
Jagnoor, J., Suraweera, W., Keay, L., Ivers, R. Q., Thakur, J. S., Gururaj, G. and Jha, P. (2011). Childhood and adult mortality from unintentional falls in India. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 89(10): 733-740
Jagnoor, J., Keay, L., Ganguli, A., Dandona, R., Thakur, J. S., Boufous, S., Cumming, R. and Ivers, R. Q. (2012). Fall related injuries: A retrospective medical review study in North India. Injury, 43(12):1996-2000
Johnson S. J. (2006). Frequency and nature of falls among older women in India. Asia Pac J Public Health, 18:56–61
Kemmlert, K. and Lundholm L. (1998). Slips, trips and falls in different work groups with reference to age. Safety Science, 28 (1): 59–75.
Kemmlert, K. and Lundholm, L. (2001). Slips, trips and falls in different work groups- with reference to age and from a preventive perspective. Applied Ergonomics, 32: 149-153
Krishnaswamy B., Usha G. (2010).Falls in older people: national /regional review India.New Delhi : Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital, Chennai City, Tamil Nadu State, India.
Kumar, R. and Singh, P. (2013). Orthopedic trauma in hilly area of Kumaon region: A clinico epidemiological study. Indian Journal of Research and Reports in Medical Sciences, 3(2):13-15.
Leamon, T. B. and Murphy, P. L. (1995). Occupational slips and falls: more than a trivial problem. Ergonomics, 38(3) : 487-498
Leroux, A., Fung, J. and Barbeau, H. (2002). Postural adaptation to walking on inclined surfaces: I. Normal strategies. Gait Posture,15 (1): 64–74
Lincoln, A. E., Sorock, G. S. and Courtney, T. K. (2004). Using narrative text and coded data to develop hazard scenarios for occupational injury interventions. Injury Prevention,10: 249-254
Lord, S. R., McLean, D. and Stathers, G. (1992). Physiological factors associated with injurious falls in older people living in the community. Gerontology, 38(6):338-346
Manning, D. P. and Shannon, H. S. (1981). Slipping accidents causing low-back pain in a gearbox factory, spine. 6:70-72
Mittal, S. (2008). Development strategy for the hill districts of Uttarakhand, Indian Council For Research On International Economic Relations.
Nachreiner, N.M., Findorff, M.J., Wyman, J.F. and McCarthy, T.C. (2007). Circumstances and consequences of falls in community-dwelling older women. Journal of Women's Health, 16(10): 1437-1446
Nakai, A., Akeda, M. and Kawabata, I. (2006). Incidence and risk factors for inpatient falls in an academic acute-care hospital. J Nippon Med Sch., 73: 265-270
Navaratne K., Fonseka P., Rajapakshe L., Somatunga L., Amertunga S. and Ivers R. ( 2009). Population-based estimates of injuries in Sri Lanka. Inj Prev.,15:170-175
Nenonen, N. (2013). Analysing factors related to slipping, stumbling, and falling accidents at work: Application of data mining methods to finish occupational accidents and diseases statistics database. Applied Ergonomics, 44 (2): 215–224
Redfern, M. S. and DiPasquale J. (1997). Biomechanics of descending ramps. Gait and Posture, 6:119–25
Rubenstein, L. Z. (2006). Falls in older people: epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for prevention. Age and ageing, 35(suppl 2):37-41
Ryynanen, O. P., Kivela, S. L. and Honkanen, R. (1991). Incidence of falling injuries leading to medical treatment in the elderly. Public Health, 105: 373-86.
Sattin, R.W., Huber, D.A.L., Devito, C.A., Rodriguez, J.G., Ros, A., Bacchelli, S. and Waxweiler, R. J. (1990). The incidence of fall injury events among the elderly in a defined population. American Journal of Epidemiology, 131(6): 1028-1037
Stevens, J.A., Mahoney, J.E. and Ehrenreich, H. (2014). Circumstances and outcomes of falls among high risk community-dwelling older adults. Injury epidemiology, 1(1): 5
Strandberg, L. and Lanshammar H. (1981). The dynamics of slipping accidents. Journal of Occupational Accidents, 3 (3): 153–162
Tinetti, M.E., Speechley, M. and Ginter, S.F. (1988). Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. N Engl J Med., 319: 1701-1707.
Tromp A.M., Pluijm S.M.F., Smit J.H., Deeg, D.J.H., Bouter L.M. and Lips, P. (2001). Fall-risk screening test: a prospective study on predictors for falls in community-dwelling elderly. J Clin Epidemiol., 54(8):837–44
World Health Organization. Ageing, andLife Course Unit. (2008). WHO global report on falls prevention in older age. World Health Organization.
Yeoh, H.T., Lockart, T.E. and X. Wu. (2013). Non-fatal Occupational Falls on the Same Level. Ergonomics, 56 (2): 153–165
Bentley, T., Tappin, D., Moore, D., Legg, S., Ashby, L. and Parker, R. (2005). Investigating slips, trips and falls in the New Zealand dairy farming sector. Ergonomics, 48(8): 1008-1019.
Berg, W. P., Alessio, H. M., Mills, E. M. and Tong, C. (1997). Circumstances and consequences of falls in independent community-dwelling older adults. Age and ageing, 26(4): 261-268
Buck, P. C. and V. P. Coleman. (1985). Slipping, Tripping and Falling Accidents at Work: A National Picture. Ergonomics, 28 (7): 949–958
Burea of Labor Statistics (2012). United States Department of Labor, National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2012.
Campbell A.J., Reinken J., Allan B.C. and Martinez G.S. (1981). Falls in old age: a study of frequency and related clinical factors. Age ageing, 10: 264-70
Cause of death in India (2001–2003). Sample registration system. New Delhi: Registrar General of India and Centre for Global Health Research; 2009. Centers for disease control and prevention. Web-based injury statistics query and reporting system (WISQARS). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/injury/ wisqars
Dandona R., Kumar G. A., Ivers R., Joshi R., Neal B. and Dandona L. (2010). Characteristics of non-fatal fall injuries in rural India. Inj Prev., 16:166– 171
Davis, Ross, P. D., Nevitt, C. and Richart D. (1999). Risk factors for falls and for serious injuries on falling among older Japanese women in Hawaii. Journal by American Geriatrics Society, 47:792-798
Donoghue, J., Graham, J., Gibbs, J. and Mitten-Lewis, S. (2003). Who, where and why:situational and environmental factors contributing to patient falls in the hospital setting. Aust Health Rev., 26(3):79-87
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). (2001). Preventing Accidents at Work. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. ISSN,1608-4144
European Commission (2008). Causes and Circumstances of Accidents at Work in the EU. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
Gao, C. and Abeysekera, J. (2004). A systems perspective of slip and fall accidents on icy and snowy surfaces. Ergonomics, 47: 573-98
Gronqvist, R. and Hirvonen, M. (1995). Slipperiness of footwear and mechanisms of walking friction on icy surfaces. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Sep; 16(3):191-200
Gururaj G., Sateesh V. and Rayan A. (2008). Bengaluru injury/road traffic injury surveillance programme: a feasibility study. Bengaluru: National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science.
Hitcho E. B., Krauss M. J., Birge S., Dunagan W. C., Fischer I., Johnson S., Nast P. A., Costantinou E. and Fraser V. J.(2004). Characteristics and Circumstances of Falls in a Hospital Setting. J. Gen.Intern. Med., 19:732-739
Jagnoor, J., Suraweera, W., Keay, L., Ivers, R. Q., Thakur, J. S., Gururaj, G. and Jha, P. (2011). Childhood and adult mortality from unintentional falls in India. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 89(10): 733-740
Jagnoor, J., Keay, L., Ganguli, A., Dandona, R., Thakur, J. S., Boufous, S., Cumming, R. and Ivers, R. Q. (2012). Fall related injuries: A retrospective medical review study in North India. Injury, 43(12):1996-2000
Johnson S. J. (2006). Frequency and nature of falls among older women in India. Asia Pac J Public Health, 18:56–61
Kemmlert, K. and Lundholm L. (1998). Slips, trips and falls in different work groups with reference to age. Safety Science, 28 (1): 59–75.
Kemmlert, K. and Lundholm, L. (2001). Slips, trips and falls in different work groups- with reference to age and from a preventive perspective. Applied Ergonomics, 32: 149-153
Krishnaswamy B., Usha G. (2010).Falls in older people: national /regional review India.New Delhi : Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital, Chennai City, Tamil Nadu State, India.
Kumar, R. and Singh, P. (2013). Orthopedic trauma in hilly area of Kumaon region: A clinico epidemiological study. Indian Journal of Research and Reports in Medical Sciences, 3(2):13-15.
Leamon, T. B. and Murphy, P. L. (1995). Occupational slips and falls: more than a trivial problem. Ergonomics, 38(3) : 487-498
Leroux, A., Fung, J. and Barbeau, H. (2002). Postural adaptation to walking on inclined surfaces: I. Normal strategies. Gait Posture,15 (1): 64–74
Lincoln, A. E., Sorock, G. S. and Courtney, T. K. (2004). Using narrative text and coded data to develop hazard scenarios for occupational injury interventions. Injury Prevention,10: 249-254
Lord, S. R., McLean, D. and Stathers, G. (1992). Physiological factors associated with injurious falls in older people living in the community. Gerontology, 38(6):338-346
Manning, D. P. and Shannon, H. S. (1981). Slipping accidents causing low-back pain in a gearbox factory, spine. 6:70-72
Mittal, S. (2008). Development strategy for the hill districts of Uttarakhand, Indian Council For Research On International Economic Relations.
Nachreiner, N.M., Findorff, M.J., Wyman, J.F. and McCarthy, T.C. (2007). Circumstances and consequences of falls in community-dwelling older women. Journal of Women's Health, 16(10): 1437-1446
Nakai, A., Akeda, M. and Kawabata, I. (2006). Incidence and risk factors for inpatient falls in an academic acute-care hospital. J Nippon Med Sch., 73: 265-270
Navaratne K., Fonseka P., Rajapakshe L., Somatunga L., Amertunga S. and Ivers R. ( 2009). Population-based estimates of injuries in Sri Lanka. Inj Prev.,15:170-175
Nenonen, N. (2013). Analysing factors related to slipping, stumbling, and falling accidents at work: Application of data mining methods to finish occupational accidents and diseases statistics database. Applied Ergonomics, 44 (2): 215–224
Redfern, M. S. and DiPasquale J. (1997). Biomechanics of descending ramps. Gait and Posture, 6:119–25
Rubenstein, L. Z. (2006). Falls in older people: epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for prevention. Age and ageing, 35(suppl 2):37-41
Ryynanen, O. P., Kivela, S. L. and Honkanen, R. (1991). Incidence of falling injuries leading to medical treatment in the elderly. Public Health, 105: 373-86.
Sattin, R.W., Huber, D.A.L., Devito, C.A., Rodriguez, J.G., Ros, A., Bacchelli, S. and Waxweiler, R. J. (1990). The incidence of fall injury events among the elderly in a defined population. American Journal of Epidemiology, 131(6): 1028-1037
Stevens, J.A., Mahoney, J.E. and Ehrenreich, H. (2014). Circumstances and outcomes of falls among high risk community-dwelling older adults. Injury epidemiology, 1(1): 5
Strandberg, L. and Lanshammar H. (1981). The dynamics of slipping accidents. Journal of Occupational Accidents, 3 (3): 153–162
Tinetti, M.E., Speechley, M. and Ginter, S.F. (1988). Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. N Engl J Med., 319: 1701-1707.
Tromp A.M., Pluijm S.M.F., Smit J.H., Deeg, D.J.H., Bouter L.M. and Lips, P. (2001). Fall-risk screening test: a prospective study on predictors for falls in community-dwelling elderly. J Clin Epidemiol., 54(8):837–44
World Health Organization. Ageing, andLife Course Unit. (2008). WHO global report on falls prevention in older age. World Health Organization.
Yeoh, H.T., Lockart, T.E. and X. Wu. (2013). Non-fatal Occupational Falls on the Same Level. Ergonomics, 56 (2): 153–165
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Slip, trip and falls among women of different age groups: A case study from the northern hills of India. (2017). Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 9(1), 614-620. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v9i1.1240
