A prospective study of floor surface, shoes, floor cleaning and slipping in US limited-service restaurant workers.
Occup Environ Med
; 68(4): 279-85, 2011 Apr.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20935283
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Slips and falls are a leading cause of injury at work. Few studies, however, have systematically examined risk factors of slipping outside the laboratory environment. This study examined the association between floor surface characteristics, slip-resistant shoes, floor cleaning frequency and the risk of slipping in limited-service restaurant workers.METHODS:
475 workers from 36 limited-service restaurants from three major chains in six states in the USA were recruited to participate in a prospective cohort study of workplace slipping. Kitchen floor surface roughness and coefficient of friction (COF) were measured in eight working areas and then averaged within each restaurant. The use of slip-resistant shoes was determined by examining the participant's shoes and noting the presence of a 'slip-resistant' marking on the sole. Restaurant managers reported the frequency of daily kitchen floor cleaning. Participants reported their slip experience and work hours weekly for up to 12 weeks. The survey materials were made available in three languages English, Spanish and Portuguese. The associations between rate of slipping and risk factors were assessed using a multivariable negative binomial generalised estimating equation model.RESULTS:
The mean of individual slipping rate varied among the restaurants from 0.02 to 2.49 slips per 40 work hours. After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, education, primary language, job tenure and restaurant chain, the use of slip-resistant shoes was associated with a 54% reduction in the reported rate of slipping (95% CI 37% to 64%), and the rate of slipping decreased by 21% (95% CI 5% to 34%) for each 0.1 increase in the mean kitchen COF. Increasing floor cleaning frequency was significantly associated with a decreasing rate of slipping when considered in isolation but not after statistical adjustment for other factors.CONCLUSION:
These results provide support for the use of slip-resistant shoes and measures to increase COF as preventive interventions to reduce slips, falls and injuries.
Texte intégral:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Restaurants
/
Chaussures
/
Chutes accidentelles
/
Accidents du travail
/
Sols et revêtements
Type d'étude:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limites:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Pays/Région comme sujet:
America do norte
Langue:
En
Journal:
Occup Environ Med
Sujet du journal:
MEDICINA OCUPACIONAL
/
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Année:
2011
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
États-Unis d'Amérique