Demographic trend could trigger rise in same-level falls: study

Melbourne, Australia — An expected increase in 45-and-older women in the workforce could mean more on-the-job falls to the same level, a recent study out of Monash University suggests.

Researchers analyzed more than 42,000 hospital admission records involving work-related injuries among employees 16 and older in Victoria, Australia, between July 2017 and June 2022.

Findings show that falls were linked to 20.6% of the hospitalizations, with falls from height (52%) and same-level falls (37%) the leading types. Although male workers had a fall-related hospitalization rate double that for female workers – 0.68 for every 1,000 workers vs. 0.34 – female workers older than 45 had at greater risk for experiencing a fall to the same level.

This group of women experienced 21% of the work-related falls. Further, the cohort had a same-level fall rate of 0.21 per 1,000, compared with 0.18 for their male counterparts. Women older than 50 were shown to be at greater risk of falls to the same level.

“Same-level falls are relatively likely to occur in older women, the fastest-growing workplace demographic, and therefore the incidence is expected to increase,” the study states.

The researchers recommend a generalized approach to fall reduction or a targeted approach that allows workers to provide information pertaining to fall risk, such as a history of falls.

“Fall injuries, particularly same-level falls, are likely to increase in workplaces with current demographic changes,” the researchers write, “and employers, regulators and policymakers could usefully consider raising the profile of workplace falls and developing effective prevention strategies.”

The study was published online in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.