Citation

Manning DP, Ayers I, Jones C, Bruce M, Cohen K. J. Occup. Accid. 1988; 10(2): 121-130.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The number of injuries caused by slipping and other underfoot accidents in unknown. A population of 10,000 people employed on Merseyside was studied to determine the number of underfoot accidents occurring during 1985, both at work and elsewhere. Eight hundred and twenty three underfoot accidents were recorded of which 511 were slipping accidents. The next most numerous underfoot event was tripping (142), followed by twisting of the foot or ankle (97). Objects on the floor were implicated in 108 slipping accidents and liquids were thought to have contributed to at least 231. Ice and snow caused 70 injuries. Steps and stairs contributed to 91 (11%) underfoot accidents. Slipping was again shown to be a major cause of injury to the lumbar spine. Injuries caused by 220 of the slipping accidents required diagnosis and treatment by a doctor and this investigation supports an earlier estimate that more than one million injuries caused by slipping are treated annually by United Kingdom hospitals.