Human fall simulation testing method: where we are

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics and Safety Engineering
• Human Factors and Ergonomics

Background:

• Falls represent a major health and safety risk.
• Effective fall protection product assessment is vital for accident reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review human fall types, risk factors, and current testing methodologies.
• To discuss the future prospects of fall protection testing.

Main Methods:

• Literature search across Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus.
• Analysis of experimental human fall testing, simulation model experiments, and finite element simulations.

Main Results:

• Human fall simulation testing faces ethical and safety challenges.
• Simulation experiments offer speed but may lack reliability due to model complexity.
• Integrating experimental data and finite element simulations can enhance testing scope and protective product design.

Conclusions:

• Future research should focus on unified international standards for consistent fall protection testing.
• Optimizing human models, test environments, and incorporating finite element technology are key to improving assessment precision.