• Hyung Min Son, Sun Hyu Kim, Sang Do Shin, Hyun Wook Ryoo, Hyun Ho Ryu, and Ji Ho Lee.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea.
• Emerg Med Australas. 2014 Apr 1;26(2):188-93.

ObjectivesThis study was performed to evaluate occupational and fall injuries presenting to the ED, the risk factors associated with falls among all occupational injuries, and factors affecting prognosis.MethodsData from ED-based Occupational Injury Surveillance System were analysed to investigate the occupational injuries. The 2147 occupational injury subjects were divided into two groups: fall (n = 213, 9.9%) and non-fall (n = 1934, 90.1%). Data including baseline and clinical characteristics were compared between the groups.ResultsThe mean age was older in the fall group (46 vs 42 years old). The rate of construction site-related injury was 32% in the fall group and only 8% in the non-fall group. Injury occurrence during regular working hours (09.00 hours to 18.00 hours) was 70% in the fall group and 57% in the non-fall group. Injury severity using the Excess Mortality Ratio-adjusted Injury Severity Score (EMR-ISS) was more severe in the fall group than in the non-fall group, and days away from work were longer in the fall group than the non-fall group. Older age, compared with an age <29 years old and presence in a construction area during regular working hours were factors associated with fall injuries. Factors affecting prolonged absence for work were older age, higher EMR-ISS, fall injury and poor workplace environmental conditions.ConclusionRisk factors associated with fall-related occupational injuries include older age and being at a construction area during regular working hours. Falls among occupational injuries are more severe than other injuries and result in longer work loss.© 2014 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine.

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