Transitioning Sloped Surfaces: The effects of roofing work on balance and falls

Fatal and non-fatal falls from elevation continue to be a significant issue for today's workforce. Recent literature has indicated that exposure to an inclined (pitched) surface, such as a roofing environment has a detrimental effect on postural control. This study investigated the influence of exposure to inclined surfaces on flat surface postural control at varying durations of exposure. Results found that as exposure (time) to a sloped surface increased, individual stability was negatively affected. These results suggest that as workers are exposed to an inclination over a period of time, they would be susceptible to decrements in balance as they navigate in a typical roofing environment.