Risks and Dangers of Slips, Trips and Falls

What are the Risks and Dangers of Slips, Trips and Falls? Why is dealing with slips, trips and falls important?

Slips, trips & falls generate 25% accidents with lost time, 20% accidents without lost time and 20% near hits at Job Sites & Work places.

“Slips, trips and falls are the largest cause of accidents in all sectors; they have been identified as the main causes of accidents that result in more than 3 days absence from work.” according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

Major Slips, trips & falls risks :
 à Falls are dangerous but even a slip can cause serious injury! 

 à Many result in broken bones or worse ...

 à Can lead to other types of accidents, such as falls from height or falls into machinery.

The aim of this discussion is to provide some advices and instructions to prevent, minimize or avoid the risks associated with slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips & falls preventive actions and behaviors must be respected to preserve your safety

Unsafe or dangerous housekeeping

Ø  Oil on the floor is a serious trip hazard. In fact, any liquid on the floor, especially a concrete floor, is a slip hazard. Water, oil, or chemicals can leak from machinery, equipment, or pipes. Clean up spill or leaks of liquids right away or get them cleaned. Water and oil should be cleaned up with rags, mops, squeegees, floor absorbent, etc. Chemical spills or leaks should be reported so that properly trained personnel can clean up the chemical. Remember, do not clean up a chemical spill unless you have been trained.

Ø  Electrical power cords and air hoses are common trip hazards in many work environments. Watch the placement of temporary power cords or air hoses. Avoid stretching them across walkways or across stairwells. If they must go across high traffic areas, tape them down to the floor, and put a cone or some other warning sign over them.

Ø  Obstructions in walkways are another very common trip hazards. Tools, pallets, straps, rags, trash, etc. are trip hazards. Housekeeping plays an important role in preventing trips. Take the time to pick up tools, put away pallets, pick up trash, etc. Do not leave these items in the middle of walkways.

Ø  Open loading dock doors are potential fall hazards. This maintenance worker may step back away from the forklift and step right off the dock. The worker may be focused on his work and not realize how close to the edge he is standing.

Ø  This worker is carrying too many boxes. He cannot see over or around the boxes very well and cannot see the many hazards in his path. When carrying objects, make sure you can see adequately in order to avoid any obstructions or slip and trip hazards.

Ø  Never carry materials which obstruct your view or throw you off balance
When carrying objects, make sure you can see adequately in order to avoid any obstructions or slip and trip hazards. Use a hand cart instead

Ø  A common trip hazard in many office environments is an open filing drawer. Keep the drawers closed unless you are actively using the drawer.     Close it immediately after usage  

Ø  Never leave trailing cables uncovered. If they must go across high traffic areas, tape them down to the floor, and put a cone or some other warning sign over them.

Ø  Avoid cluttered or obstructed areas, not only it can cause trips but also a real source of disturbance in emergency situations. Keep passageways clear

Unsafe and dangerous working environmen

  Ø Spillages and loose flooring can be real sources of slips if employees are not aware of it ; workers must be diligent about getting cleaned any spill(s) so the area does not become a slip hazard.

                  à Pay attention to warning signs and get spillages cleaned

Ø  Wet greasy surfaces

                  à Should be reported so that properly trained personnel can clean it up

Ø  Wet, polished or freshly waxed surfaces and loose flooring can be a real source of slips if
employees are not aware of it

     à Pay attention to warning signs

Ø  Uneven floor or walking surfaces

                  à Pay attention to warning signs and report it if necessary so that flooring is in good condition

Ø  Taking the stairs without handrail as a support can lead to severe falls

            à Always use available handrails

Ø  Manholes, hatches

                  à Pay attention to warning signs and report it if necessary

Unsafe or inappropriate behaviors

►   Ignoring warning signs; slips, trips and falls safety signs help to warn of a potential unsafe hazards

      à Always pay attention to them

►   Wearing soiled shoes reduces the effectiveness of slip-resistant solesà Always wear suitable footwear

►   Running or rushing can cause major problems; in normal walking, the most force is exerted when the heel strikes the ground, but in fast walking or running, one lands harder on the heel of the front foot and pushes harder off the sole of the rear foot thus a higher risk of slips or trips

            à Do not run and avoid walking too fast especially in higher risk areas

►   Being distracted (phone, eating…)

à Always concentrate on where you are going.

►   Stepping over boxes or any other obstacles can easily lead to a trip and fall

            à Avoid stepping over obstacles, mark pedestrian walks and keep them clear

Good practices and appropriate behaviors

►   Report unsafe situations: Report any slips, trips and falls hazards that could injure a co-worker

►   Implement preventive actions and behaviors: CHECK what is to be done, COMPLY without questioning and BE ALERT in your working environment

►   Intervene if someone is exposed to a high risk situation because safety matters

►   Cardinal Safety Rules: Conduct 2 min for safety when on mission, use Stop work authority if necessary and Do not run to avoid accidents

Ø  Always use handrails while climbing the stairs: maintain three points of contact.

Ø  Never put items on stairs. Someone that is not watching where they are going could easily trip or slip on these objects and tumble down the stairs.

Ø  Make sure stairwells are adequately lighted. Turn on the lights before going up or down the stairs.

Ø  Cover any uncovered or trailing cables in order to avoid any slip, trip or fall hazard

Ø  Use a hand cart to transport any large object; do not carry large objects that block your forward vision

Ø  Get spillages cleaned; remember, do not clean up a chemical spill unless you have been trained

Ø  Maintain a good housekeeping; mark pedestrian walks and keep them clear

Ø  A common trip hazard in many office environments is an open filing drawer. Keep the drawers closed unless you are actively using the drawer.

Ø  Work with sufficient light: adequate lighting to ensure proper vision is also important in the prevention of slips and falls. Moving from light to dark areas, or vice versa, can cause temporary vision problems that might be just enough to cause a person to slip on an oil spill or trip over a misplaced object.

Ø  Maintain good housekeeping: proper housekeeping can contribute to safety and the prevention of falls. Not only is it important to maintain a safe working environment and walking surface, these areas must also be kept free of obstacles which can cause slips and trips. One method which promotes good housekeeping in work environments is the painting of yellow lines to identify working and walking areas. These areas should never be obstructed by objects of any kind.

Also…

I AM ALWAYS PREPARED TO FALL

If you fall

►   Try to roll with the fall if you begin to fall forward

►   Sit down if you begin to fall backward

►   Relax as much as possible when you begin to fall

Conclusion:

Ø  Always adopt preventive behaviors

Ø  Don’t take any risks, even if you are late ; plan your route ahead of time instead

Ø  When walking, always be prepared to fall

Ø  Good housekeeping prevents slip and trip hazards. Clean up spilled liquids such as water, oil, or chemicals right away. Pick up garbage, debris, tools, electric cords, air hoses, and other items that have been left in walkways or stairwells.

Ø  Identify slip and trip hazards and take corrective actions immediately. Install floor mats in areas where water is a common hazard, such as in front of doors that lead outside. Repair broken stairway handrails. Make sure there is adequate lighting in walkways, hallways, and stairwells. Repair equipment that leaks oil.

Ø  Always concentrate on where you are going. Do not carry large objects that block your forward vision. Do not walk while reading. Look out for potential slip and trip hazards.

We all play a role in our safety