# Workplace fall prevention through slip recovery training

> **NIH ALLCDC R21** · VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV · 2022 · $198,984

## Abstract

The long-term goal of this work is to help substantially reduce the number of falls and fall-related
injuries in the workplace by developing and implementing a novel, low-cost balance training
intervention for workers. Our focus is on slip-induced falls because they cause a large
percentage of falls in many occupational sectors. Two specific aims are proposed. The first
aim will evaluate the feasibility of on-site slip recovery training among workers in construction,
food service, housekeeping, and water distribution. The second aim will evaluate the validity of
field assessments of balance by determining their strength of association with established lab-
based measures of balance. These field assessments of balance will be used to evaluate the
efficacy of slip recovery training in a subsequent trial. This project addresses multiple NORA
Sectors (e.g. Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing; Construction; Mining; Services; Wholesale and
Retail Trade), and the Cross-Sector of Traumatic Injury Prevention. This research also
addresses the NIOSH Strategic Goal 6: Improve workplace safety to reduce traumatic injuries,
and NIOSH intermediate goals: 6.2 Falls; 6.13 Falls; 6.16 Falls; 6.18 Slips, trips, and falls. The
project will also address the NIOSH r2p initiative by collaborating with workers and management
in industry on a novel, lower-cost slip and fall prevention intervention. Outputs of this work will
include 2-4 publications and conference presentations. Intermediate outcomes are expected to
be citations in the literature (which indicate the application of knowledge from this work), training
offered to companies by the investigators on slip recovery training, and the adoption of this
training by companies. The end outcome is expected to be a reduction in workplace slips and
falls through implementation of the intervention developed here.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10508537
- **Project number:** 1R21OH012451-01
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL L MADIGAN
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $198,984
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-30 → 2024-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10508537

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10508537, Workplace fall prevention through slip recovery training (1R21OH012451-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10508537. Licensed CC0.

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