Balance and exposure to an elevated sloped surface.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Safety and Health
• Biomechanics
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Falls from elevation, particularly from pitched roofs, are a major cause of occupational injuries and fatalities.
• The economic impact of fall injuries and fatalities exceeds $50 billion annually.
• Understanding the effects of working on inclined surfaces on balance is crucial for preventing falls.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how exposure to inclined surfaces affects balance on flat surfaces at different heights.
• To compare the balance recovery of experienced roofers versus inexperienced individuals after working on pitched surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Thirty participants (10 male college students, 10 female college students, 10 male roofers) walked on elevated (9-14 ft) and ground-level (0-5 ft) roof segments.
• Balance was assessed by measuring sway velocity under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions before and after exposure.
• Data were collected on separate days for each condition.

Main Results:

• All groups showed significant differences in sway velocity over time and between eyes-open/eyes-closed conditions at both height levels.
• Experienced roofers exhibited significantly less increase in sway velocity post-exposure compared to the inexperienced group.
• Balance impairment was observed in all participants after working on inclined surfaces.

Conclusions:

• Individuals are less stable immediately after performing roofing tasks on pitched surfaces.
• Employers and employees should be aware of this temporary balance impairment.
• Allowing adequate recovery time after roofing work is essential to mitigate fall risks.