Occupational injuries suffered by flight attendants while on board

Inflight occupational injuries suffered by flight attendants are an important cause of medical disabilities. Mexicana Airlines has made an evaluation of this problem from 1983 to 1987. The injuries most frequently observed were contusions, skin cuts, sprains, fractures, spine disorders, and severe barotitis. The anatomic regions commonly affected were the hands, feet, and spine. These injuries are responsible for 15,573 work days lost for the average of 1,631 flight attendants. This study identified some unsafe actions and conditions in the flight attendants' working environment. The company has initiated an extensive training program to avoid unsafe actions and to eliminate certain unsafe conditions where possible.