Background Little is known about the distribution of specific sites where occupational falls frequently occur within the workplace. This study aimed to examine the distribution of occupational falls by sites of occurrence in Japan.

Methods National data of occupational falls resulting in absences of four or more days in 2023 were extracted from a website managed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. Fall sites were classified as either outdoor or indoor. Indoor sites were further categorized as walkways, work platforms/walking planks, indoor stairs, or other sites. Walkways and work platforms/walking planks were defined as indoor level surfaces. The distribution of occupational fall by sites was described.

Results Among all occupational falls, 63.2% occurred at indoor sites (22,780/36,058). The most frequently reported site was indoor level surfaces, accounting for 49.0%, while indoor stairs accounted for 5.9%. When stratified by sex, 65.9% occurred at indoor sites among female workers while 59.0% occurred among male workers. The difference was largely attributable to a higher proportion of falls on indoor level surfaces among females (52.7% in females and 43.5% in males).

Conclusions In Japan, a substantial proportion of occupational falls occurred at indoor sites, particularly on indoor level surfaces.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study was partly supported by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (23JA1003 and 23JA1004); UOEH Grant-in-Aid for Collaborative Research between the Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences and the University Hospital (2022-1); and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS KAKENHI JP22K17401).

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