Work-related injuries to the foot. Data from an occupational injury/illness surveillance system

In 1988, a total of 990 work-related injuries to the foot of employees from private-sector companies were characterized in an occupational injury/illness surveillance system maintained by a network of occupational health centers. The mean age of the worker with a foot injury was 34.2 years (+/- 12.0), with 83% occurring among men; 22.3% of the cases were fractures or sprains/strains. Jobs involving extensive manual material handling or vehicular operations were the most often listed occupations among those with work-related foot injuries. Across occupational groups, being struck by an object accounted for 58.4% of the foot injuries. Regardless of industry group, metal items and vehicles were related to 50.7% of all work-related foot injuries. Specifically, foot injuries were found to be associated with being struck by boxes, metals, or vehicles, or to being caught in, under, or between vehicles or machinery. A peak of work-related injuries involving the foot is observed during the summer months.