Evaluation of Postural Stability during Forward Reaching on a Stepladder for Occupational Fall Prevention

This study aims to evaluate the standing stability during forward reaching tasks on a stepladder in 10 male subjects for prevention of occupational falls. The postural stability was evaluated by measuring the horizontal displacement of the center of pressure (COP) on a stepladder. The experimental conditions comprised four different standing positions on a stepladder: on the platform, stepping over the platform, at one step below the platform, and at two steps below the platform. The results show that the horizontal displacement of the COP in the front direction at two steps below the platform was larger than that on the platform or at one step below it, while it in the horizontal directions were not significantly different between the standing positions. These results suggest that the posture stability could be improved at two steps below the platform for forward reaching tasks on a stepladder.