Preventive Effects of Safety Helmets on Traumatic Brain Injury after Work-Related Falls

Sang Chul Kim, Young Sun Ro, Sang Do Shin and Joo Yeong Kim
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Sang Chul Kim: Department of Emergency Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine and Chungju Hospital, Chungju 27376, Korea
Young Sun Ro: Laboratory of Emergency Medical Services, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul 03080, Korea
Sang Do Shin: Laboratory of Emergency Medical Services, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul 03080, Korea
Joo Yeong Kim: Laboratory of Emergency Medical Services, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul 03080, Korea

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Introduction: Work-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by falls is a catastrophic event that leads to disabilities and high socio-medical costs. This study aimed to measure the magnitude of the preventive effect of safety helmets on clinical outcomes and to compare the effect across different heights of fall. Methods: We collected a nationwide, prospective database of work-related injury patients who visited the 10 emergency departments between July 2010 and October 2012. All of the adult patients who experienced work-related fall injuries were eligible, excluding cases with unknown safety helmet use and height of fall. Primary and secondary endpoints were intracranial injury and in-hospital mortality. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of safety helmet use and height of fall for study outcomes, and adjusted for any potential confounders. Results: A total of 1298 patients who suffered from work-related fall injuries were enrolled. The industrial or construction area was the most common place of fall injury occurrence, and 45.0% were wearing safety helmets at the time of fall injuries. The safety helmet group was less likely to have intracranial injury comparing with the no safety helmet group (the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 0.42 (0.24–0.73)), however, there was no statistical difference of in-hospital mortality between two groups (the adjusted ORs (95% CI): 0.83 (0.34–2.03). In the interaction analysis, preventive effects of safety helmet on intracranial injury were significant within 4 m height of fall. Conclusions: A safety helmet is associated with prevention of intracranial injury resulting from work-related fall and the effect is preserved within 4 m height of fall. Therefore, wearing a safety helmet can be an intervention for protecting fall-related intracranial injury in the workplace.

Keywords: occupational injuries; accidental falls; traumatic brain injury (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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