Jl. Bell et al., Slip and fall-related injuries in relation to environmental cold and work location in above-ground coal mining operations, AM J IND M, 38(1), 2000, pp. 40-48
Background The association between slip and fall-related injuries and envir
onmental temperature was examined for mostly enclosed (inside vehicles, mac
hinery, or buildings), outdoor (outside, not enclosed), and enclosed/outdoo
r jobs in the coal mining industry to see if differences existed among the
three work locations that had varying exposure to cold temperatures.
Methods Temperature data from the National Climatic Data Center and injury
data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration were evaluated from 198
5-1990 fur seven states. Proportionate methods were used to examine the rel
ationship between slips and falls and temperature.
Results Proportionate injury ratios of slips and fall-related injuries incr
eased as temperature declined for all three work locations. Proportion of s
lips and fall-related injuries that occurred while running/walking increase
d with declining temperature, with the ground outside as the most common so
urce of these injuries.
Conclusions Outside movement becomes a greater hazard at freezing temperatu
res for workers in all locations, not just outdoor workers. Any interventio
n methods geared toward reducing injury incidents facilitated by cold weath
er must also be directed toward workers who spend time in more enclosed loc
ations. Am. J, Ind, Med, 38:40-48, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss. Inc.(da
gger).