NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Role of postural stability in industrial falls.

Bhattacharya A; Succop P; Bagchee A; Mitchell T; Chiou Y; Lai F

Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 1994 Dec; :1-174

00228281

The effect of environmental, job task, and personal factors on the ability of the worker to maintain upright posture stability while performing simulated industrial tasks was investigated. Factors tested included surface contamination, surface friction, standing surface firmness, lighting, blocked peripheral vision due to work layout, workload, age, sex, and physical fitness. Fifty two workers, ranging in age from 21 to 55 years, were tested using a multi axis force platform system while performing simulated industrial tasks. Subjective and objective measures of postural stability were used. A short questionnaire type loss of balance perception scale was developed and tested for this project. Risk factors (ranked highest to lowest) for propensity of loss of balance were lighting, peripheral view, standing surface compliance, and workload. A statistical model was developed which can be used to predict estimated increase in postural imbalance from baseline condition for various fall risk factors. The neural network modeling approach was also applied for predicting postural instability associated with fall risk factors.

NIOSH-Grant; Traumatic-injuries; Physical-stress; Accident-analysis; Ergonomics; Age-factors; Sex-factors; Physical-fitness; Work-environment

Environmental Health University of Cincinnati 3223 Eden Ave Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056

19941201

Final Grant Report

373611

Grant

1995

PB95-269940

A09

Grant-Number-R01-OH-02794

OEP

Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

OH

University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio