Built Environment

​The physical design and construction of built environments directly impacts the safety of people who inhabit or frequent them. The Institute’s built environment research is dedicated to understanding and identifying potential injury risks in built environments and developing recommendations to inform design guidelines.

Fall-related injuries are the dominant issue in built environments. Over the years, the Research Institute has focused on the causes and prevention of slips and falls, developing tools, methods and recommendations aimed at reducing these events. Even as we explore other areas related to safety in the built environment, slips and falls are our principal research focus.

Research Highlights

​Our scientists conducted slips and falls research aimed at identifying modifiable risks that can be lessened through simple, often low-cost interventions such as proper housekeeping. Read more . . .
 
Improper ladder use is a leading cause of severe fall-related injuries. Our research seeks to more fully understand the risk factors and mechanisms underlying ladder-related injuries. Read more . . .

Built Environment

Focus: Injuries that occur in built environments, such as, homes, commercial buildings, schools, parks, transportation terminals, walkway systems and public buildings

Objective: To understand how injuries, such as falls, occur in these environments with an emphasis on prevention by design

Focus: Injuries that occur in built environments, such as, homes, commercial buildings, schools, parks, transportation terminals, walkway systems and public buildings

Objective: To understand how injuries, such as falls, occur in these environments with an emphasis on prevention by design