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Assistive Technology Resources National AgrAbility Workshop (2001 - 2008)
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Slips and Falls Resource SheetMarch 2003Overview:Falls, whether caused by a slip, loss of balance, or poor vision, are the leading cause of injury, disability, placement in nursing homes, and premature death in elderly Americans.1 According to the National Safety Council, 27.7% of slips and falls occur either while a person is on the job or while working in the house/yard.2 The risk of secondary injuries due to a slip or fall is greater for farmers/ranchers who have mobility impairments than for those who do not. Across the country, the average age of the farmer/rancher continues to increase. Combining that fact with the fact that farmers/ranchers with disabilities work in dangerous environments, the probability of slips and falls seems fairly high. Who benefits:Individuals with mobility impairments or weakness, leg amputations, arthritis, back injuries, or affected by the aging process. Commercial Resources:Included are examples of products that can assist in the prevention of slips and falls. However, there are more products (e.g., numerous styles of shoe/boot cleats, various types of grab bars and hand railings, etc.) than can be included in this single Resource Sheet. Please refer to the Assistive Technology Product Database for more examples (see below).
Shop Flooring, Steps, Ladder Rungs Grip Strut® & Tread-Grip® Ladder Rungs
McNichols
Traction-Tread Flooring
Attachments for Canes, Crutches, Walkers, and Shoes/BootsIce Grip Cane Attachment
Accessibility Products, Incorporated
Yaktrax
Yaktrax, Inc.
Home Flooring, Stair Edge, Rugs, and Rail/Grab Bars Non-Skid Safety Tape, Hazard or Warning Tape
Plasti Dip (Performix) Super Grip® Non-skid Spray-on Coating Lok-Lift® Rug Gripper Tape, Outdoor/Indoor Mat Gripper Tape
Considerations:Note, while anti-slip materials (e.g., tread tapes, Grip Strut, ladder rung covers, non-skid mats) reduce the potential for slips and falls, these same materials can become a catch hazard and result in a fall for farmers/ranchers with mobility impairments who lack sensation in lower extremities. The material can grip a person's foot so well that he/she may have difficulty lifting or remembering to lift his/her foot up and off the material, thus resulting in a potential fall. Also, many of these items and materials need to be well maintained in order to prevent a build-up of mud, dirt, and ice, which will counteract the anti-slip properties of the material. Check with your state AgrAbility Project (http://www.agrabilityproject.org/stateprojects.cfm) for assistance in locating other possible resources to prevent slips and falls or please visit the Assistive Technology Product Database to find/view more examples of products to help prevent slips and falls. (http://www.agrabilityproject.org/search/index.cfm) 1 Hoyert, D. L., K. D. Kochanek, and S. L. Murphy. 1999. Deaths: Final Data for 1997. National vital statistics reports. Publication 47-19. Hyattsville, Md: National Center for Health Statistics. 2 National Safety Council, 2001. Injury Facts. 22. NOTE: Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the University of Wisconsin, Easter Seals, or the AgrAbility Project, and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms. The AgrAbility Project is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture CSREES. Funding for this document was provided under the project number 00-41590-0932. |
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