Langley Slip, Trip, and Fall Awareness Initiative

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Langley Slip, Trip, and Fall Awareness Initiative

• Harold W. Beazley
• Safety Manager
• January 4, 2005

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Langley Slip, Trip, and Fall Awareness Initiative

• Begins today with this presentation to the ESC
• The Safety Manager or a representative from the
  SFAB is available to present this briefing
  to Center personnel upon request at
• Safety Meetings
• Non-Safety Meetings such as staff meetings
• Tri-fold handout on Slips, Trips, and Falls
• Have a poster available for download
• Banners for the Center Gates
• Banner for the Cafeteria

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Scary Statistics from the CDC on Slips, Trips,
and Falls from 2002

• The number one reason for a trip to the emergency
  room in 2002 was Unintentional Fall for all
  ages except the 1524 age group
• In the 1524 age group, the number one reason was
  Unintentional Struck by/Against
• In the 1524 age group, Unintentional Fall was
  the number three reason
• Center for Disease Control

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Even Scarier Statistics from the CDC on Slips,
Trips, and Falls from 2001

• In the 35-44 age group, the ninth leading cause
  of Injury Death was Unintentional Fall with 647
  deaths
• In the 45-54 age group, the fifth leading cause
  of Injury Death was Unintentional Fall with
  1024 deaths
• In the 55-64 age group, the third leading cause
  of Injury Death was Unintentional Fall with
  1004 deaths
• Most of the LaRC population falls in the 35-64
  age group

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Langley Statistics

• Approximately a quarter of our OSHA recordables
  and First Aid Cases were due to Slips, Trips, and
  Falls
• More than 40 of our Lost Time and Restricted
  Work Injuries were a result of Slips, Trips, and
  Falls

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LaRC TCIR FY04

• Overall TCIR - 1.56
• TCIR due to Slips, Trips, Falls - 0.54
• 35 of our TCIR value is coming from Slips,
  Trips, and Falls - These are preventable!

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The Langley Goal

• The Langley goal is simple but bold,
• To have no flips due to slips or trips.
• Cause having a fall is really no ball,
• And with your fate comes an increase in our rate.

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Safety 101 Types of Falls

• There are two basic types of falls
• Elevated falls
• Same-level falls
• The majority of falls at LaRC are same-level
  falls with a slip or trip being the root cause.
• Elevated falls at LaRC are primarily due to
  improper use of a ladder.
• Injuries from falls result from the sudden stop
  or striking an object or working surface

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Risk Factors

• Common risk factors that increase the probability
  of a slip, trip or fall are
• Slippery or uneven surfaces.
• Obstructions, like hoses or cords, stretched
  across aisles.
• Improper use of ladders and stairs.
• Improper shoes.
• Unsafe behavior, such as horseplay or jumping
  from high places

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Slip Theory

• Slips are primarily caused by a slippery surface
  and compounded by the type of footwear worn.
• In normal walking, two types of slips occur.
• When the heel of the front foot contacts the
  walking surface and slips forward causing the
  person to fall backward.
• When the rear foot slips backward.
• The force to move forward is on the sole of the
  rear foot.
• As the rear heal is lifted and the force moves
  forward to the front of the sole, the foot slips
  back and the person falls forward.

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Prevention of Slips

• Awareness and action are the two key ways to
  counteract slip hazards every day, both on and
  off the job.
• Slips happen in almost any part of the workplace.
  
• You should be aware of the possibility of slips,
  no matter where you work.
• Some surfaces are much more slippery than others.
• Add water, a spilled substance, grease, oil, or
  even fresh wax or polish to a floor or walking
  surface, and you increase the potential for
  slips and falls.

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Potential Slip Hazards at LaRC

• Wet Spots
• Don't wait for a small spill to dry itself.
• It only takes a second for a serious accident to
  happen.
• Loose Flooring
• Use caution when walking over loose tiles,
  bricks, pavement, carpet or floorboards.
• Check your floors at home and at work.
• Icy Spots
• Spread sand and/or salt on icy walkways during
  the winter.
• Always walk slowly on any surface.

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Trip Theory

• Trips occur when the front foot strikes an object
  and is suddenly stopped.
• The upper body continues forward
• A fall occurs.
• As little as a 3/8" rise in a walkway can cause a
  person to "stub" a toe resulting in a trip and
  fall.
• The same thing can happen going up a flight of
  stairs
• Only a slight difference in the height of steps
  can cause a person can trip and fall.

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Prevention of Trips at LaRC

• Obstructions that create trip hazards
• Blocked aisle-ways
• Materials not properly stored
• Open drawers
• Unsecured hoses or cords across pathways
• Good housekeeping is everyones responsibility.
• You are in the best position to notice, report,
  and correct conditions that could cause a slip,
  trip, or fall.

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Potential Trip hazards at LaRC.

• Electrical Cords
• Avoid using extension cords, if possible.
• If you must use one, never place it (or any other
  cord) in a walking area.
• Materials
• Trip hazards are created by materials stored in
  hallways and aisles
• Store materials in closets and cabinets.
• Untidy Floors
• Any small things can cause big falls
• A pencil
• A piece of paper or fabric
• A machine part
• Drawers
• Keep them closed
• Many trips have been caused by a drawer that was
  only going to be open for a second.

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Conclusions

• Remain attentive to surroundings
• If it snowed, there are likely to be icy patches
• If it rained, entrance ways are likely to be wet
  and slippery
• Watch out for spills
• Clean them up
• Place a cone or other alerting device to ensure
  that others see the hazard
• Call 4ROME to have someone clean it up
• If you see something that could cause a slip or
  trip, report it to your supervisor, to ROME,
  and/or the SFAB
• With everyones help, we can meet the LaRC goal
  of No flips due to slips or trips.