Tackling the Banana Skin – An Ergonomics Approach to Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

摘要

Falls are a major cause of injury, imposing a substantial burden on society. Falls arise from a combination of environmental and personal factors which, in turn, are affected by individual behaviour and organisational influences. Hazards present in the environment, such as slippery flooring or an uneven floor surface, interact with the ability of individuals to detect such hazards, take avoiding action, and to recover balance when perturbed. Detection, avoidance and balance recovery are affected by individual health, fitness and alertness, with these influenced by the extent to which people exercise or suffer from illness and fatigue. The extent to which fall hazards in the environment give rise to problems is affected by individual behaviour. Behaviour is in turn affected by the knowledge of individuals, their appreciation of risk and other factors motivating them.