walking unprotected on surfaces that are covered in fuel or on fire,
or are strewn with broken glass or sharp metal debris is undesirable.
It is advisable to wear fully enclosed leather shoes with laces or
straps, such as leather boots or sports shoes, and to avoid wearing
flip-flops or high heels. In emergencies, passengers must remove
high heels before using the evacuation slides to prevent puncturing
them.
The Civil Aviation Administration recommends that passengers wear
appropriate attire during flights, and specifically notes the negative impact
of stockings, short skirts, and high heels during emergency evacuations.
This advice is equally applicable to cabin crew, who are responsible for
passenger safety.
b) Risk of falls
In 2012, the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of
Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan 58 found from labor insurance statistics on
compensation for falls that without distinguishing between industries, the
total number of cases involving falls and the annual fall incidence rate per
thousand workers was slightly higher for male workers (13,399 cases and
0.50, respectively) than female workers (11,774 cases and 0.44,
respectively). 59 However, when the fall incidence rates of the two genders
were compared across industries, the air transport industry showed the
most significant difference: the average five-year fall incidence rate for
female workers was 0.93 per thousand workers, which was 4.86 times
higher than that of their male counterparts. The study highlighted the
following (italics added for emphasis):
Some employees, due to dress code requirements, may be restricted
by their apparel when they fall, potentially preventing them from
regaining their balance and causing more severe injuries. This
phenomenon is more likely to occur among employees wearing
58
59
Now the Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Labor.
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, Executive
Yuan (2012). “An Analysis of Prevention and Control Strategies for Occupational
Hazards Caused by Falls among Female Workers” (New Taipei City: author).
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