Abstract
A substantial number of injuries and fatalities within occupational environments are due to falls, the majority of which are believed to be a result of loss of balance. The construction industry has been identified as one of the most hazardous industries and falls from height are a leading cause of fatalities in construction operations. This study investigated the effects of beam condition, foot placement and load on objective and subjective assessment of postural stability. Twenty-three male participants completed all conditions with the effect of beam condition significantly affecting both objective and subjective measures of stability (ANOVA, α = 0.05). While not significantly affecting postural sway, the load conditions significantly affected the stability ratings. Correlations between the objective and subjective measures were very weak (–0.219 < r < 0.01) with the strongest correlation between mean velocity and the stability ratings. Subjective perceptions of postural stability should be used with caution, particularly in more realistic task environments with less variability in difficulty levels.
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