Slips, Trips, and Falls Module 2

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Slips, Trips, and FallsModule 2
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• Module Two will Cover

Ways to prevent slips, trips, and falls

• Designing the workplace and work processes
• Good housekeeping maintaining clear pathways
• Safe walking practices
• Wearing proper footwear
• Falling properly

• Note This Slips, Trips, and Falls module
  mainly cover falls caused by slips and trips and
  falls at the same level.

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• Workplace/Work Process Design

• Contain work processes to prevent discharge,
  splatter, or spillage of liquids, oils,
  particles, dusts, etc. onto floor.

• local exhaust ventilation
• extraction/collection systems
• enclosures
• work surfaces with raised or lipped edges
• catch/drip pans, drain offs

Sander with dust collection system

• Use drip trays to prevent or contain leaks of
  lubricant onto the floor from machinery perform
  regularly scheduled maintenance to keep in good
  condition.

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• Workplace/Work Process Design

Have adequate ventilation to keep oil, steam
condensation, water and grease off floor.
Provide adequate lighting to keep work areas,
aisles, and paths of travel well lit.
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• Workplace/Work Process Design

Mark/highlight step edges and transition areas
(changes in elevations). Use anti-skid paint.
Step edges are highlighted for better visibility
to prevent a misstep and fall down the stairs.
Confusing the bottom step with the floor is a
common occurrence when its not marked. No
missing the last step here.
Make sure stairs have sufficient lighting and
hand rails.
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• Workplace/Work Process Design

Provide effective floor draining where water on
the floor will occur
Install slip-resistant floors in high risk areas
(entrances, kitchens).
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• Workplace/Work Process Design

Apply slip-resistant coating or strips.
Skid-resistant coating on ramp. Note highlighted
edges for better visibility to prevent walking
off ramp and falling.
Slip-resistant strips on steps
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• Workplace/Work Process Design

Use slip-/skid- resistant matting
Skid-resistant, anti-fatigue mats in kitchen and
food preparation areas. Worker is also wearing
slip-resistant shoes.
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• Workplace/Work Process Design

Highlight or mark slip and trip hazards for
better visibility.
Wheelchair accessible curb leading to building
entrance is highlighted and the surface is
dimpled for better visibility and traction.
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• Maintaining Work Areas Housekeeping

Housekeeping

• Keep walkways, aisles, and stairs clear of
  materials, equipment, and other hazards.
• Cover or secure (or suspend overhead on
  construction sites) cables, cords, wires, and
  hoses away from walkways and other paths of
  travel.
• Make sure rugs or mats are flat and not bunched
  up.

Pathway is clearly marked and free of
obstructions.
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• Maintaining Work Areas Housekeeping

• Securely fasten unanchored loose rugs or mats
  with skid-resistant backing and carpet tape.
• Close desk, cabinet, and file drawers and doors
  immediately after each use.
• Keep the floor around work spaces free of boxes,
  cords, cables, materials, and other objects.

Organized and tidy work space
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Maintaining Work Areas Housekeeping
Floor/Work Surface Care

• Keep floors clean and free of water, mud, grease,
  debris, etc, and damage.
• Clean spills immediately. Mop or sweep up any
  debris.
• Repair any damages immediately, or replace if
  necessary.
• Cone or block off area until surface is
  completely dry or repaired before allowing people
  to walk through the area.

Note When mopping, avoid spreading the spillage
and thus increasing the area of contamination.
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Maintaining Work Areas Housekeeping

• Clean surfaces according to recommended
  schedules. Follow cleaning and drying methods and
  procedures, using appropriate cleaning products.

Use an adequate number of highly visible wet
floor signs or cones.
Remove signs and cones when area is dry.
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Safe Walking Practices

• Pay attention to your surroundings. Look where
  you are going when you walk. Watch for slip and
  trip hazards in your work area and wherever you
  walk.

• Walk, dont run or rush. Give yourself enough
  time.
• Do not engage in activities that distract your
  attention. Do not read, write, or work while you
  are walking.
• Use the handrails when climbing or descending the
  stairs. Do not rush and skip steps.

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Safe Walking Practices

• Check that your pathway is clear and your view is
  not blocked before you lift anything.
• Dont carry a load you cant see over or around.
  Use a cart. Carry small loads close to your body.
• When going to another floor/level, take the
  elevator if you are carrying a load requiring
  both hands.
• Report any missing or broken stair rails and
  slippery or damaged flooring, loose or
  deteriorating carpeting. Repair or report floor
  problems, such as missing tiles.

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Safe Walking Practices

• Walk carefully and slowly when you transition
  from one type of walking surface to another.
  Adjust your walking (pace, stride).
• Take extra care when you come indoors with wet
  shoes or boots.
• Slow down and take small careful steps if the
  surface is uneven, cluttered, slippery or at an
  angle.
• Wear stable shoes with non-slip soles.

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Safe Walking Practices
If you must walk on a slippery or wet surface, do
the following

• Wear high traction footwear
• Take short, slow steps
• Point your feet slightly outward to keep your
  center of balance under you
• Pay attention to the surface you are walking on
• Hold on to railings or other stable objects

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Mounting/Dismounting Equipment Safely

• Clean footwear of mud, snow, ice, grease, or any
  other contamination.
• Make sure running board, tread, step, foothold,
  and platform of equipment are also clean and dry
  of any contamination.
• Always face equipment when mounting and
  dismounting.
• Have a good hand-hold before stepping up.
• Place your foot on the step or foothold just in
  front of your heel, under the arch.

• Clean shoes
• Clean foothold and step
• Proper foot placement on step and foothold

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Mounting/Dismounting Equipment Safely

• Maintain three-point contact at all times while
  getting onto/off of the equipment until reaching
  ground, cab, or stable platform.

• one hand, two feet
• two hands, one foot

Three-point contact

• Do not jump off when dismounting or getting off
  the bed of a truck or other part of the
  equipment. Step down carefully while facing
  equipment (reverse order of the pictures above).

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Climbing/Descending Ladders Safely
Follow the same procedures for mounting and
dismounting equipment as for climbing and
descending ladders.

• Clean footwear of mud debris.
• Clean and dry rungs or steps.
• Face the ladder at all times.
• Have a good hand-hold before stepping up.
• Place your foot on the step or rung just in
  front of your heel, under the arch.
• Maintain three-point contact.
• Do not jump off ladder step down carefully.

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Wearing Proper Shoes
Wearing proper shoes can help prevent or reduce
the risk of a slip, trip, and fall incident.

• Footwear should fit snugly and comfortably.
• Wear slip-resistant shoes/boots with good tread.
• Keep your footwear clean and in good condition at
  all times.
• Inspect regularly for any damage repair or
  replace worn or defective footwear.
• Replace shoes or soles before soles become worn
  smooth.

• Dont wear shoes with
• Leather or smooth-surfaced soles
• Spiked/high heels
• Taps on heels

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Wearing Proper Shoes
Wear shoes with slip-resistant soles or traction
devices when walking or working on surfaces that
are wet, greasy, icy, or other-wise slick (e.g.,
in kitchen areas, performing custodial work).
No footwear has anti-slip properties for every
condition so make sure that the proper type of
footwear is selected for the work conditions and
for the type of flooring or walking/working
surface.
Slip-resistant traction devices for snow and ice
that fit over the soles
Steel-toed safety boots with oil-resistant soles
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Wearing Proper Shoes
The table below shows some types of soles with
increased traction properties. Consult with
footwear manufacturers or your safety supplier
for advice and assistance in selecting the
appropriate type of footwear for your work place.
Type of Sole Traction Properties
neoprene soles work well on both wet and dry surfaces
microcellular urethane, rubber soles the least slippery on level wet floors
crepe soles best for rough concrete, not suggested for smooth tiled or wood surfaces
oil-resistant soles working in a machine shop or other work area where there may be oil or other slippery substances on the floor
Wearing shoes with increased traction does not
substitute for safe walking practices!
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Falling Properly
If you do fall, you can reduce the chance of
serious injury if you

• Roll with the fall dont reach out. Let your
  body crumple and roll.
• Bend your elbows and knees and use your legs and
  arms to absorb the fall.
• Get medical attention after a fall to treat
  anything torn, sprained, or broken.

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Resources

• National Floor Safety Institute
  https//nfsi.org/
• OSHA slips/trips/falls in hospitals
• State of Texas 5 tips to prevent slips, trips,
  and falls
• National Ag Safety Database Preventing
  injuries from slips, trips and falls