Work related injuries associated with scaffolds

Date of report: 20 November 1997

Authors: Renate Kreisfeld and Stan Bordeaux

The following report summarises information on scaffold related injury derived from three separate sources of data:

emergency department presentations
hospitalisations and
deaths.

Emergency department data:

The following information is based on a search of our Injury Surveillance Information System (ISIS) database of presentations to hospital emergency departments.

There was a total of 906 cases in ISIS in which a SCAFFOLD was coded as being a factor in causing an injury. Of these, 664 cases (73%) were coded as 'Injured on Duty', indicating that the incident occurred in the course of work. The latter group is the subject of the following report.

About ISIS:

ISIS is a national collection of hospital emergency department attendance records. Over 50 hospitals and other medical centres have provided data to the collection over the period 1986-1994. It should be stressed however that the ISIS collection does not provide a comprehensive coverage of all injuries presenting to hospitals in Australia. Nonetheless, the collection is large (over 700,000 records) and can provide a good description of the circumstances leading to specific types of injury, as well as identify less common injury occurrences. Information about injury circumstances is usually self-reported by the injured person. Additional clinical information is provided by the treating medical staff.
More information on the ISIS coding system is available here.

Disclaimer

This is a brief analysis written in response to a specific question from one of the Centre's clients. It uses available data and should not be viewed as a detailed piece of research. The Centre releases this information in the interests of ensuring that work done for one client can inform others. The report must not be quoted or cited without written permission from the Centre.

Briefly, these were some of the patterns observable from the analyses undertaken:

Predictably, 99% of selected cases were male.
Most cases involved young and middle-aged men. Consistent with what would be expected of this section of the workforce, a decline in frequency was observed in the age group 45-59, with cases being comparatively rare in the 60-74 year age group. (It should be noted that two of the selected cases appear to have involved childrenthe most likely interpretations would be that the cases were misclassified with respect to age; or that children were injured while present at a work site.
The most frequently coded locations were construction sites (61%); followed by other industrial locations (11%); and factories or warehouses (7%).
The one-line text descriptions accompanying each case indicate that the circumstances surrounding the injury event varied. Falls from scaffolding were clearly the most frequent event. Where specific information was available, it appears that important factors leading to falls included slips and trips, and the collapse of the scaffold.
The most frequently sustained injuries were fractures (22%), sprains and strains (19%); and cuts and lacerations (19%).
59% of selected cases required a significant level of treatment. 16% resulted in admission to hospital.

The following data tables appear below:

Scaffolds - Tables of frequencies by sex
Scaffolds - Tables of frequencies by age group
Scaffolds - Tables of frequencies by primary injury sustained
Scaffolds - Tables of frequencies by primary body part injured
Scaffolds - Tables of frequencies by level of medical treatment received
Scaffolds - Tables of frequencies by geographical location of the incident
Scaffolds - Tables of frequencies by mechanism of injury
Scaffolds - Tables of frequencies by breakdown event leading to the injury
Scaffolds - Summary table of all relevant cases

Australian hospitalisations data, 1995/96:

During the 12-month period 1995/96, there was a total of 276 cases of hospitalisation in which the external causes code indicates that the person was injured when they fell from a scaffold. The vast majority of these cases involved males (n=267). The age and sex distribution of the cases suggests that most would have been work related.

About hospitalisations data: Hospital in-patient morbidity data are provided to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare by individual State and Territory health departments. Unit record data for all hospital in-patients are based on ICD-9-CM External Cause Code E-codes or ICD-9-CM Chapter 17 Injury and Poisoning Diagnosis codes. Data are compiled on a financial rather than calendar year basis.

The following data table appears below:

Scaffolds - Cross-tabulation of male cases, age group by injury type

Australian deaths data, 1979-1995:

During the period 1979-1995, a total of 85 deaths was registered in which the external causes code indicates that the person fell from a scaffold. All 85 cases involved males. The age distribution, together with the fact that all cases were male, suggests that most of them would have been work-related.

About deaths data: Deaths data are from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) mortality unit record data collection, 1979-93. The ABS obtains the information from coroners' records. The case of each death registered in Australia is classified by the ABS according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The 9^th revision (ICD9) has been used for death registrations beginning in 1979. All deaths given an ICD9 'External Cause' code by the ABS are included. Data are presented according to the year in which deaths were registered.

The following data table appears below:

Scaffolds - Cross tabulation of sex by age group.

**Scaffolding incidents: Sex (ISIS data)**
Sex	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Male	869	95.9	95.9	95.9
Female	37	4.1	4.1	100.0
Total	906	100.0	100.0

**Work related scaffolding incidents: Age group**
Age group	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
0-4 yrs	1	.2	.2	.2
5-9 yrs	1	.2	.2	.3
15-29 yrs	274	41.3	41.3	41.6
30-44 yrs	253	38.1	38.1	79.7
45-59 yrs	117	17.6	17.6	97.3
60-74 yrs	18	2.7	2.7	100.0
Total	664	100.0	100.0

**Work related scaffolding incidents: Primary injury sustained (ISIS data)**
Nature of injury	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Cut, laceration	125	18.8	18.8	18.8
Puncture	3	.5	.5	19.3
Bite	1	.2	.2	19.4
Superficial abrasion	21	3.2	3.2	22.6
Penetrating wound	2	.3	.3	22.9
Haematoma or bruising	113	17.0	17.0	39.9
Inflammation oedema tenderness	56	8.4	8.4	48.3
Burn partial thickness	1	.2	.2	48.5
Foreign body in soft tissue	17	2.6	2.6	51.1
Crushing injury	21	3.2	3.2	54.2
Fracture	144	21.7	21.7	75.9
Dislocation	9	1.4	1.4	77.3
Sprain or strain	128	19.3	19.3	96.5
Poisoning	1	.2	.2	96.7
Concussion	14	2.1	2.1	98.8
Injury not specified	8	1.2	1.2	100.0
Total	664	100.0	100.0

**Work related scaffolding incidents: Primary body part affected (ISIS data)**
Primary body part	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Not applicable	23	3.5	3.5	3.5
Eye	22	3.3	3.3	6.8
Ocular adnexum	3	.5	.5	7.2
Nose	1	.2	.2	7.4
Mouth external	9	1.4	1.4	8.7
Face cheek forehead scalp	47	7.1	7.1	15.8
Skull base	3	.5	.5	16.3
Skull vault	12	1.8	1.8	18.1
Neck, not elsewhere classified	8	1.2	1.2	19.3
Other injury to head	4	.6	.6	19.9
Clavicle	5	.8	.8	20.6
Scapula	2	.3	.3	20.9
Shoulder, not elsewhere classified	19	2.9	2.9	23.8
Humerus	2	.3	.3	24.1
Upper arm, not elsewhere classified	1	.2	.2	24.2
Radius or ulna	12	1.8	1.8	26.1
Elbow	20	3.0	3.0	29.1
Forearm	18	2.7	2.7	31.8
Wrist	28	4.2	4.2	36.0
Carpal bone	5	.8	.8	36.7
Metacarpal bone	12	1.8	1.8	38.6
Upper extremity digit or phalanx	45	6.8	6.8	45.3
Hand or not elsewhere classified	26	3.9	3.9	49.2
Hip	5	.8	.8	50.0
Femur	2	.3	.3	50.3
Upper leg or not elsewhere classified	8	1.2	1.2	51.5
Knee	42	6.3	6.3	57.8
Tibia or fibula	17	2.6	2.6	60.4
Lower leg or not elsewhere classified	27	4.1	4.1	64.5
Ankle	62	9.3	9.3	73.8
Tarsal bone	11	1.7	1.7	75.5
Metatarsal bone	10	1.5	1.5	77.0
Lower extremity digit or phalanx	11	1.7	1.7	78.6
Foot or not elsewhere classified	26	3.9	3.9	82.5
Ribs	23	3.5	3.5	86.0
Sacroiliac joint	1	.2	.2	86.1
Spine	20	3.0	3.0	89.2
Pelvis	4	.6	.6	89.8
Chest or not elsewhere classified	12	1.8	1.8	91.6
Abdomen or not elsewhere classified	2	.3	.3	91.9
Upper back or not elsewhere classified	6	.9	.9	92.8
Lower back or not elsewhere classified	38	5.7	5.7	98.5
Genitalia	1	.2	.2	98.6
Other trunk injury	2	.3	.3	98.9
Lung	2	.3	.3	99.2
Liver	1	.2	.2	99.4
Cervical spinal cord	1	.2	.2	99.5
Lumbar spinal cord	3	.5	.5	100.0
Total	664	100.0	100.0

**Work related scaffolding incidents: Level of medical treatment required (ISIS data)**
Level of medical treatment	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
No treatment	47	7.1	7.1	7.1
Treated, no referral	224	33.7	33.7	40.8
Treated, referral outpatients department	59	8.9	8.9	49.7
Treated, referral GP	56	8.4	8.4	58.1
Treated, other referral	17	2.6	2.6	60.7
Short stay ward observation	9	1.4	1.4	62.0
Admitted	90	13.6	13.6	75.6
Transferred	6	.9	.9	76.5
Died or DOA	1	.2	.2	76.7
Casualty review	155	23.3	23.3	100.0
Total	664	100.0	100.0

**Work related scaffolding incidents: Geographic location of incident (ISIS data)**
Location of incident	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Factory or warehouse	49	7.4	7.4	7.4
Mine or quarry	4	.6	.6	8.0
Construction site	408	61.4	61.4	69.4
Farm or primary production	1	.2	.2	69.6
Other industrial	74	11.1	11.1	80.7
Private enterprise	26	3.9	3.9	84.6
Government public utility	5	.8	.8	85.4
Public road	8	1.2	1.2	86.6
Footpath	2	.3	.3	86.9
Other vehicle area	3	.5	.5	87.3
Sports arena or oval or court	3	.5	.5	87.8
Pool or other water sport	1	.2	.2	88.0
Public institution	1	.2	.2	88.1
Private institution	2	.3	.3	88.4
Own home garden etc	3	.5	.5	88.9
Other private home living or sleep	1	.2	.2	89.0
Other private home garden etc	24	3.6	3.6	92.6
Residential institution	16	2.4	2.4	95.0
Child care not playground	1	.2	.2	95.2
School not playground	5	.8	.8	95.9
School playground	1	.2	.2	96.1
Other educational	1	.2	.2	96.2
Private or commercial amusement area	1	.2	.2	96.4
Unknown or not elsewhere specified	24	3.6	3.6	100.0
Total	664	100.0	100.0

**Work related scaffolding incidents: Mechanism of injury (ISIS data)**
Mechanism of injury	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Hit against victim moving	448	67.5	67.5	67.5
Hit by other moving	88	13.3	13.3	80.7
Collision between both moving	1	.2	.2	80.9
Caught in or between	35	5.3	5.3	86.1
Strain or over-exertion	36	5.4	5.4	91.6
Foreign body in	10	1.5	1.5	93.1
Grazed abraded lacerated punctured	44	6.6	6.6	99.7
Splashed sprayed or sprinkled	1	.2	.2	99.8
Touched victim moving dry heat	1	.2	.2	100.0
Total	664	100.0	100.0

**Work related scaffolding incidents: Breakdown events (ISIS data)**
Breakdown event	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Slipped on	66	9.9	9.9	9.9
Tripped on	15	2.3	2.3	12.2
Fell on same level	4	.6	.6	12.8
Fell from up to one metre	34	5.1	5.1	17.9
Fell from over one metre	253	38.1	38.1	56.0
Ejected from	3	.5	.5	56.5
Dropped	43	6.5	6.5	63.0
Knocked over or spilt	1	.2	.2	63.1
Over-exerted or over-reached	40	6.0	6.0	69.1
Lost control of	32	4.8	4.8	73.9
Moved person or thing	71	10.7	10.7	84.6
Collision between	6	.9	.9	85.5
Collapse or cave-in	70	10.5	10.5	96.1
Failure or malfunction	10	1.5	1.5	97.6
Natural event	1	.2	.2	97.7
Caught in or snagged by	12	1.8	1.8	99.5
Unknown	3	.5	.5	100.0
Total	664	100.0

**Scaffolds - Summary table (ISIS data)**
Case no	Age in years	Description of incident	Primary injury sustained	Level of medical treatment required
1	32	Fell off scaffolding onto ground	Sprain or strain	Casualty review
2	30	Lifting scaffolding & strained back	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
3	32	Slipped off scaffolding hitting ground	Sprain or strain	Casualty review
4	45	Carrying prop and tripped over scaffolding tube and hit frame	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral
5	58	Fell from scaffolding 4 mtrs hitting timber	Fracture	Admitted
6	28	Slipped from scaffolding hit ground	Sprain or strain	Casualty review
7	36	Putting up hoist tower hoist slipped lacerated arm	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
8	53	Fixing ceiling whilst standing on plank fell hitting stool	Haematoma or bruising	Casualty review
9	30	Finger caught in scaffolding	Cut, laceration	Treated no referral
10	35	Walking along plank fell hit concrete	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
11	66	Fell from scaffolding and landed on concrete	Cut, laceration	Admitted
12	33	Working on scaffolding which fell down	Fracture	Casualty review
13	21	Working on scaffolding slipped and fell hitting concrete	Sprain or strain	No treatment
14	49	Standing on scaffold which gave way fell hit jaw on railing on way down	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Treated no referral
15	29	Stripping timber fell from scaffolding onto ground	Sprain or strain	No treatment
16	34	Fell from scaffolding and landed on shoulder	Sprain or strain	Treated referral OPD
17	60	Fell off scaffold onto a brick	Cut, laceration	Treated referral GP
18	40	Working on scaffolding,platform broke and he fell onto concrete	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral
19	15	Metal frame fell 1.5m onto victim, crushing fingers	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral
20	28	Fell from work platform and landed on both feet on concrete below	Fracture	Admitted
21	31	Sandblasting and fell onto a steel drum from scaffold	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
22	43	Climbing scaffolding slipped and fell hitting ground	Fracture	Admitted
23	48	Working on scaffolding and scaffold was pulled away victim hit the ground	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
24	43	Plank slipped off scaffold and fell landed on concrete	Haematoma or bruising	No treatment
25	19	Victim fell from scaffolding 6ft landing on feet on ground	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Treated no referral
26	37	Fell off a plank to ground	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Treated no referral
27	32	Boot caught on scaffolding and he fell off and scaffolding fell onto him	Fracture	Admitted
28	55	Scaffold gave way fell hitting ground	Fracture	Treated other referral
29	19	Fell from scaffolding hitting ground	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
30	22	Fell from scaffolding hit ground	Sprain or strain	Casualty review
31	28	Fell off scaffolding and hit hand against metal bar	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral
32	54	Fell from scaffolding hit ground	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
33	23	Slipped on scaffolding hit plank	Cut, laceration	Admitted
34	29	Shifting trestles one closed on thumb and fell squashing and twisting thumb	Fracture	Treated referral OPD
35	41	Erecting scaffolding to install tennis ct lights fell 3.5mtrs hit ground	Fracture	Admitted
36	24	Loading scaffolding foreign body entered eye	Foreign body in soft tissue	Casualty review
37	25	Walked into scaffolding	Haematoma or bruising	No treatment
38	42	Standing on scaffolding operating concrete pump timber of scaffold gave way	Fracture	Admitted
39	23	Fell 15-20 ft from building onto ground	Fracture	Admitted
40	32	Haning up sheep skins and fell from planks onto concrete floor	Sprain or strain	Admitted
41	20	Working on scaffolding fell hit scaffolding and ground	Fracture	Admitted
42	28	Standing on scaffolding fell hit ground	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
43	22	Welding on scaffolding slipped and fell off hit concrete	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
44	21	Standing on scaffolding slipped fell hit head	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral
45	41	Laying bricks hit head on scaffolding	Haematoma or bruising	No treatment
46	28	Fell from scaffold hit ground	Fracture	Treated referral OPD
47	18	Fell from platform hit ground	Cut, laceration	Admitted
48	21	Welding door frames and fell off scaffold onto concrete	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Treated no referral
49	32	Laying bricks,scaffold collapsed,landed on concrete	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Treated no referral
50	38	Spray painting and fell 12ft and landed on concrete	Sprain or strain	Casualty review
51	44	Erecting reinforcing steel and fell from plank to concrete	Superficial abrasion	Treated no referral
52	36	Plastering and slipped on a trestle and twisted back	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
53	27	Moving scaffolding and twisted knee	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
54	40	Lifting scaffolding and slipped off scaffolding and hit hand on edge of it	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
55	17	Walked passed scaffolding and cut head	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
56	46	Fell from scaffolding which collapsed hit floor	Sprain or strain	Treated referral OPD
57	20	Packing up gear and tripped over some scaffolding	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Treated no referral
58	20	Climbing up a scaffold and rammed fingers into scaffolding	Injury not specified	No treatment
59	36	Fell from scaffold onto ground	Fracture	Treated referral OPD
60	43	Climbing off scaffold and fell landed on concrete	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral
61	38	Painting and fell off plank hit window ledge	Haematoma or bruising	Treated referral OPD
62	48	Climbing ladder ladder slipped fell hitting steel scaffolding	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
63	25	On building site fell 17' onto ground	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Casualty review
64	26	Slipped on scaffold and hit scaffold	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Casualty review
65	30	Pouring concrete fell 2 ft onto steel poles	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral
66	30	Fell from scaffolding	Dislocation	Admitted
67	49	Victim plastering, fell from scaffolding hitting ground	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
68	30	Working on a wall,fell from the scaffolding planks & landed on the concrete	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
69	29	Working on scaffolding & fell 10' feet onto concrete	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral
70	30	Fell off scaffolding lacerated foot on glass	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
71	19	Fell from scaffolding hitting ground	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Treated referral OPD
72	17	Apprentice bricklayer dismantling scaffolding & bar hit him in face	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
73	22	Climbing up scaffolding and caught thigh on scaffolding	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
74	21	Rigger walking on scaffolding slipped & fell getting leg caught between steps	Sprain or strain	Treated referral OPD
75	23	Fell off scaffolding as scaffolding fell over hit ground	Fracture	Admitted
76	34	Erecting road signs and scaffolding fell over and he fell onto the road	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Casualty review
77	26	Sign writing and trestle collapsed and landed on ground	Sprain or strain	Casualty review
78	27	Working on scaffold and fell 7ft and hit ground	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
79	37	Scaffolding fell hitting vicitm	Haematoma or bruising	Treated referral GP
80	48	Slipped of tressle girder fell across foot-no safety boots	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
81	26	Working on roof and fell from scaffolding	Superficial abrasion	Treated no referral
82	24	Slipped off scaffolding hit concrete	Fracture	Admitted
83	20	Climbing scaffolding and fell off and landed on window sill	Cut, laceration	Treated no referral
84	23	Fell 10 mt onto heels	Fracture	Admitted
85	24	Making a roof for a truck and fell off trestle and landed on metal sheets	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
86	52	Laying blocks and walked into a protruding scaffold plank	Sprain or strain	Casualty review
87	30	Building scaffold and scaffold slipped and hit eye	Cut, laceration	Treated referral GP
88	23	Moving trestle and it fell over and hit leg	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
89	28	Putting ceiling on bus fell from scaffold	Sprain or strain	Treated no referral
90	49	Scaffolding fell and plank fell 15ft onto his head	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
91	39	Laying bricks and fell off scaffold and caught leg on scaffold	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
92	22	Working on a plank which slipped and he fell against a brick post	Cut, laceration	Treated referral GP
93	30	Painting house missed footing on plank fell hitting ground	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral
94	19	Victim driving electric scissor scaffold,caught between crossbar and steelbeam	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral
95	27	Walking on platform and missed footing	Cut, laceration	Casualty review
96	47	Fell from scaffold	Fracture	Treated referral GP
97	30	Installing exit light slipped and fell off scaffolding hit concrete	Inflammation oedema tenderness	Treated no referral
98	28	Walking on timber frame timber broke fell hitting pile of timber	Sprain or strain	Treated other referral
99	26	Rigger jumped of scaffolding onto piece of steel	Cut, laceration	Treated referral GP
100	22	Fell off scaffolding and landed on floor	Haematoma or bruising	Treated no referral

**Scaffolds - male hospitalisations 1995/96, cross-tabulation of age group by injury type**
		5-9	10-14	15-24	25-34	35-54	55-64	65-74	75+	Total
Superficial (excluding eye)	External			1	1	1				3
	Group Total			1	1	1				3
Open wound (excluding eye)	External			3	4	5		1		13
	Group Total			3	4	5		1		13
Fracture (excluding tooth)	Head			1		2		1		4
	Face			1	2	3				6
	Chest				2	11	2	3	1	19
	Spine			2					1	3
	Upper extremities	1	1	4	18	26	7	1		58
	Lower extremeties		1	5	7	37	8	5	2	65
	Unknown			4	6	10	4			24
	Group Total	1	2	17	35	89	21	10	4	179
Dislocation	Face
	Upper extremities			3	1	5	1			10
	Lower extremeties			2	1					3
	Group Total			5	2	5	1			13
Sprain/strain	Upper extremities					1				1
	Lower extremeties			1	4	1		1		7
	Group Total			1	4	2		1		8
Nerve (including spinal cord; excluding brain)	Upper extremities					3				3
	Unknown					1				1
	Group Total					4				4
Muscle/tendon	Upper extremities			1		3		1		5
	Group Total			1		3		1		5
Amputation (including partial)	Upper extremities					2				2
	Group Total					2				2
Internal organ	Chest				1	2	1			4
	Abdomen				1	1				2
	Group Total				2	3	1			6
Intracranial(including concussion)	Head	1	1	4	5	6	2	4		23
	Group Total	1	1	4	5	6	2	4		23
Unspecified nature of injury	Face			1						1
	Lower extremeties						1			1
	Unknown		1	2	1	5				9
	Group Total		1	3	1	5	1			11
Total		2	4	35	54	125	26	17	4	267

**Scaffolds - Deaths in Australia, 1979-95, resulting from falls from scaffolding**
	Age group						Total
Sex	15 to 24	25 to 34	35 to 54	55 to 64	65 to 74	75 plus
Male	8	18	44	7	6	2	85
Female							0
Total	8	18	44	7	6	2	85

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