Fall Arrest and Post-Fall Suspension: Literature Review and Directions for Further Research.

Abstract : The available literature on fall arrest and suspension tests involving live animals or humans was surveyed. Experience in this area was found to be very limited. Experimental findings are not documented at all in the primary scientific literature nor are they well documented in the secondary literature. The available test data indicate that human suspension tolerance is a function of the restraint harness used to supsend the subject. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of injury associated with fall arrest and prolonged motionless suspension are not well defined in the available literature. A review of Air Force occupational falls from 1978 to 1983 revealed that relatively few personnel were involved in falls resulting in death or serious injury. In fact, the death rate of Air Force personnel due to falls was estimated to be 20 times less than the death rate of Air Force personnel due to aircraft mishaps. Most of the falls in the sample studied were attributed to safety infractions by the victims. Furthermore, few of the falls appeared to be amenable to prevention by fall protection equipment. It is theorized that the clinical findings associated with prolonged motionless suspension may be due to dependent venous pooling as the result of failure of the muscle pump to return venous blood to the heart. Directions for further research in this area are provided. (Author)