Affiliations: Ireland Army Community Hospital, Fort Knox, KY,
USA | U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive
Medicine, Injury Prevention Program, MD, USA | Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Eric Shuping, Ireland Army
Community Hospital, 851 Ireland Loop, Fort Knox, KY 40121, USA. Tel.: +1 502
624 0508; Fax: +1 502 624 0396; E-mail: eric.e.shuping@us.army.mil
Abstract: Details on fall-related circumstances, a leading cause of
occupational injury, are scarce. This study aimed to identify modifiable causes
of falls using data from safety reports. Coded and narrative data on injured
persons, event locations, and circumstances associated with falls sustained by
U.S. Army personnel were obtained from safety reports dated September
1994–September 2002. Descriptive statistics are presented for injury outcomes
and risk factors, with a focus on falls from elevation. On average, 59
fall-related injuries/100,000 person-years were reported. Higher rates occurred
among whites, single persons, and 20–24 year-olds. Falls from elevation
resulted in more severe outcomes, longer hospitalizations, and more lost work
time compared to falls from the same level. Most falls from elevation occurred
in training (32%) and housing (18%) areas. Leading causes included
routine activities (e.g., walking, entering/exiting vehicles) (35%),
physical training (12%), and sports (12%). Interventions to prevent falls
from elevation in this population should focus on reducing risks from routine
activities, specifically in training and housing areas. Safety reports provided
details necessary for prioritizing and planning fall prevention efforts that
are not available from other sources.
Keywords: Injury, epidemiology, occupational, falls, elevation, height, military, safety
