Preventing slips, trips and falls

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Preventing slips, trips and falls
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Objectives

• List the leading causes of slips, trips and falls
  in an office or industrial setting.
• List the leading causes of slips, trips and falls
  in a construction setting.
• List the steps in preventing slips, trips and
  falls in the workplace.

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Definitions

• Slip To slide involuntarily and lose one's
  balance or foothold
• Trip A stumble or fall, usually at the same
  level
• Fall To lose an upright or erect position
  suddenly this can be to the same level or a
  different level

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2007 fatalities by accident type
Current numbers from Jan. 1, 2007, to July 31,
2007
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The regulations

• 1910.21 - Definitions
• 1910.22 - General requirements
• 1910.23 - Guarding floor and wall openings and
  holes
• 1910.24 - Fixed industrial stairs
• 1910.25 - Portable wood ladders
• 1910.26 - Portable metal ladders

• 1910.27 - Fixed ladders
• 1910.28 - Safety requirements for scaffolding
• 1910.29 - Manually propelled mobile ladder stands
  and scaffolds (towers)
• 1910.30 - Other working surfaces
• 1910 Subpart D - Authority for 1910 Subpart D

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Office environments

• Floor coverings such as rugs, mats and carpets
  should be in good repair and lay flat on the
  floor.
• Close drawers when not in use.
• Securely fasten telephone, computer and extension
  cords out of the way.
• Properly store or dispose of boxes, files, papers
  and other material that can end up on the floor.

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Walking and working surfaces

• Keep aisles and passageways clear and in good
  repair with no obstructions across or in aisles
  that could create a hazard.
• Mark permanent aisles and passageways
  appropriately.
• Where mechanical handling equipment is used,
  aisles should be sufficiently wide. Improper
  aisle widths coupled with poor housekeeping and
  vehicle traffic can cause injury to employees,
  damage equipment and material, and can block
  emergency pathways.

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General requirementsCovers and guardrails

• Provide covers and/or guardrails to protect
  workers from the hazards of open pits, tanks,
  vats, ditches and the like.
• Protect skylights to prevent workers from falling
  through them.

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General requirementsFloor loading protection

• Mark load-rating limits on plates and post
  conspicuously.
• It is unlawful to place, or cause, or permit to
  be placed, on any floor or roof of a building or
  other structure, a load greater than that for
  which the floor or roof is approved.

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Determining an opening

• Floor hole An opening measuring less than 12
  inches but more than 1 inch in its smallest
  dimension in any floor, platform, pavement or
  yard through which materials but not workers
  may fall.
• Floor opening An opening measuring 12 inches or
  more in its smallest dimension in any floor,
  platform, pavement or yard through which
  workers may fall.
• Platform A working space elevated above the
  surrounding floor or ground for workers.
• Wall hole An opening less than 30 inches but
  more than 1 inch high, of unrestricted width, in
  any wall or partition.
• Wall opening An opening at least 30 inches high
  and 18 inches wide, in any wall or partition,
  through which workers may fall.

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Protection for floor openings

• Provide standard railings on all exposed sides of
  a stairway opening, except at the stairway
  entrance.
• For infrequently used stairways, where traffic
  across the opening prevents the use of a fixed
  standard railing, the guard shall consist of a
  hinged floor opening cover of standard strength
  and construction along with removable standard
  railings on all exposed sides, except at the
  stairway entrance.

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Protection for floor openings

• A standard railing consists of a top rail, mid
  rail and posts. It should have a vertical height
  of 42 inches nominal from the upper surface of
  the top rail to the floor, platform, runway or
  ramp level. The nominal height of a mid rail is
  21 inches.
• A standard toeboard is 4 inches nominal in
  vertical height, with not more than ¼-inch
  clearance above floor level.

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Protection for floor openings

• Floor openings may be covered rather than guarded
  with rails.
• When the floor opening cover is removed
• Put a temporary guardrail in place, or
• Station an attendant at the opening to warn
  personnel.
• Guard every floor hole into which workers can
  accidentally walk by either
• A standard railing with toeboard, or
• A floor hole cover of standard strength and
  construction.

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Protection of open-sided floors and platforms

• Guard every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet
  or more above adjacent floor/ground level by a
  standard railing on all open sides.
• Except where there is an entrance to a ramp,
  stairway or fixed ladder
• Provide the railing with a toeboard wherever,
  beneath the open sides
• Persons can pass
• There is moving machinery
• There is equipment with which falling materials
  could create a hazard.

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Protection of open-sided floors and platforms

• Regardless of height, open-sided floors,
  walkways, platforms or runways above or adjacent
  to dangerous equipment, guard pickling or
  galvanizing tanks, degreasing units and similar
  hazards with a standard railing and toeboard.

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Stairway railings and guards

• Every flight of stairs with four or more risers
  will have standard stair railings or standard
  handrails.
• On stairways less than 44 inches wide having both
  sides enclosed, affix at least one handrail,
  preferably on the right side descending.
• On stairways less than 44 inches wide with one
  open side, affix at least one stair rail on the
  open side.
• On stairways less than 44 inches wide having both
  sides open, provide two stair rails, one for each
  side.
• On stairways more than 44 inches wide, but less
  than 88 inches, provide one handrail on each
  enclosed side and one stair rail on each open
  side.
• On stairways 88 inches or more in width, provide
  one handrail on each enclosed side, one stair
  rail on each open side and one intermediate stair
  rail placed approximately in the middle of the
  stairs.

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Standard stair railing

• The vertical height will be no more than 34
  inches nor less than 30 inches from the upper
  surface of the top rail to the surface of the
  tread.
• Mount the lengthwise member directly on a wall or
  partition by means of brackets attached to the
  lower side of the handrail to keep a smooth,
  unobstructed surface along the top and both sides
  of the handrail.
• The supports for the rail will be 3 inches from
  the wall and be no more than 8 feet apart.
• The height of handrails will be no more than 34
  inches nor less than 30 inches from the upper
  surface of the handrail to the surface of the
  tread

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Fixed industrial stairs

• Provide fixed industrial stairs for access to and
  from places of work where operations necessitate
  regular travel between levels.
• OSHA requirements include
• Fixed industrial stairs strong enough to carry
  five times the normal anticipated live load
• At the very minimum, any fixed stairway will
  safely carry a moving concentrated load of 1,000
  pounds
• All fixed stairways will have a minimum width of
  22 inches
• Fixed stairs will be installed at angles to the
  horizontal of between 30 degrees and 50 degrees
• Vertical clearance above any stair tread to an
  overhead obstruction will be at least 7 feet
  measured from the leading edge of the tread.

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Inspecting stairs

• Handrails and stair rails
• A. Lack of
• B. Placement
• C. Smoothness of surface
• D. Strength
• E. Clearance between rail and wall or other
  object
• Treads
• A. Strength
• B. Slip resistance
• C. Dimensions
• D. Evenness of surface
• E. Visibility of leading edge

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Inspecting stairs

• Improper/inadequate design, construction or
  location of staircases
• Wet, slippery, or damaged walking or grasping
  surfaces
• Improper illumination ... there is no general
  OSHA standard for illumination levels. Consult
  the Illuminating Engineering Societys
  publications for recommendations.
• Poor housekeeping

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Use of ladders

• Place ladders with a secure footing, or lash/hold
  them in position.
• Extend ladders used to gain access to a roof or
  other area at least 3 feet above the point of
  support.
• Do not use the top of a regular stepladder as a
  step.
• Use both hands when climbing or descending
  ladders.
• Never use metal ladders near electrical equipment.

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Use of ladders

• Use the foot of a ladder, where possible, at such
  a pitch that the horizontal distance from the top
  support to the foot of the ladder is one-quarter
  of the working length of the ladder (the length
  along the ladder between the foot and the
  support).

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Use of ladders

• Always face the ladder when climbing up or down.
• Do not splice short ladders together to make long
  ladders.
• Never work on ladders placed in the horizontal
  position as scaffolds or work platforms.

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Introduction to fall protection

• A basic introduction to fall protection

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Fall protection standards in general industry

• 1910.23 Guarding floor and wall openings and
  holes
• 1910.66 Powered platforms for building
  maintenance
• App. A Guidelines (advisory)
• App. C Personal fall-arrest system (Section I -
  mandatory Sections II and III - non-mandatory)
• 1910.132 General requirements (personal
  protective equipment)
• 1910.269 Electric power generation, transmission
  and distribution
• References 1926 subpart M and contains additional
  requirements for fall protection

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Frequently cited violations

• Failure to protect workers from falls of 6 feet
  or more off unprotected sides or edges, e.g.
  floors and roofs. (1926.501(b)(1) (b)(10) and
  (b)(11))
• Failure to protect workers from falling into or
  through holes and openings in floors and walls.
  (1926.501(b)(4) and (b)(14))
• Failure to provide guardrails on runways and
  ramps where workers are exposed to falls of 6
  feet or more to a lower level. (1926.501(b)(6))

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Work positioning systems

• These systems are designed to hold and sustain
  the user at a work location and limit the free
  fall to 2 feet or less, as in rebar work or tree
  trimming. Below are examples of typical
  components of a work positioning system.
• Body support Full-body harness
• Connecting component Chain or web rebar
  assembly, rope or web lanyard
• Anchorage connector Carabiner or snap hook
• Anchorage Rebar or support structure

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Restraint systems

• These are systems designed to prevent the user
  from reaching an area where free fall could occur
  so no free fall is possible, as in leading edge
  roof work. Below are elements and examples of
  restraint systems.
• Body support Full-body harness or body belt
• Connecting component Rope or web lanyard
• Anchorage connector Carabiner, tie-off adapter,
  roof anchor
• Anchorage Beam or support structure

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Rescue systems

• These systems are designed to raise or lower a
  user to safety in the event of an emergency, so
  no free fall is possible (i.e. confined space
  work). Below are the four elements of a rescue
  system and examples
• Body support Full-body harness
• Connecting component Lifeline (winch,
  self-retracting lifeline) and Y-lanyard
• Anchorage connector Tripod, davit arm
• Anchorage Support structure or surface

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Fall arrest

• These systems are designed to stop a free fall of
  up to 6 feet, and limit the maximum forces of a
  user to 1,800 pounds or less, as in steel
  erection or elevated maintenance work. Below are
  the four elements of a fall-arrest system and
  examples.
• Body support Full-body harness
• Connecting component Shock-absorbing lanyard,
  self-retracting lifeline, rope grab
• Anchorage connector Carabiner, tie-off adapter,
  trolley, roof anchor
• Anchorage Beam or support structure

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Suspension system

• These systems support and suspend the user while
  being transported up or down vertically and will
  not allow a free fall. Below are elements and
  examples of suspension systems.
• Body support Full-body harness and a boatswain's
  chair
• Connecting component Lifeline (rope, rescue
  positioning device) rope or web lanyard
• Anchorage connector Carabiner, tripod, davit arm
  tie-off adapter
• Anchorage Beam or support structure or surface

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A typical fall-arrest arrangement

• A typical system consists of
• An anchorage connector
• A shock-absorbing lanyard
• A full-body harness.
• You must attach the anchorage connector must to a
  suitable and strong attachment point.

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Requirements for personal fall-arrest system

• Limit maximum arresting force on a worker to 900
  pounds (4 KiloNewtons) when used with a body
  belt.
• Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to
  1,800 pounds (8 KiloNewtons) when used with a
  body harness.
• Be rigged so that an employee can neither free
  fall more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) nor contact
  any lower level.
• Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit
  maximum deceleration distance an employee travels
  to 3.5 feet (1.07 meters).
• Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the
  potential impact energy of an employee free
  falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 meters) or the
  free fall distance permitted by the system,
  whichever is less.

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Common pieces of equipment
Rope and cable grabs
Self-retracting lifelines
Shock-absorbing lanyard
Carabiners
Cross-arm strap
Full-body harness
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Use of body belts

• Effective Jan. 1, 1998, body belts are prohibited
  as a fall-arrest device.
• You can use body belts as a positioning device.

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Dee-rings and snap hooks

• Dee-rings and snaphooks must have a minimum
  tensile strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2
  KiloNewtons).
• Proof-test dee-rings and snaphooks to a minimum
  tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 KiloNewtons)
  without cracking, breaking or suffering permanent
  deformation.

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Personal protective equipment

• Proper shoes are a major consideration in many
  operations.
• The nature of the walking surface should dictate
  the type of footwear needed to increase traction
  and reduce the potential for slips, trips and
  falls.
• Oil, water and other liquids, as well as dusts,
  pellets and other small solids may require
  special footwear as well as special housekeeping
  and engineering design to reduce the potential
  for slips, trips and falls.

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Additional training

• Extensive training is needed to fully understand
  and use much of the fall-protection equipment
  available.
• A competent person must evaluate work conditions
  to ensure safety when working in elevated
  locations.
• Most manufacturers provide very extensive
  programs in fall protection.

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General requirementshousekeeping

• Keep all places of employment, passageways,
  storerooms and service rooms clean and orderly,
  and in a sanitary condition.
• Maintain the floor of every workroom in a clean
  and (so far as possible) dry condition. Where wet
  processes are used, maintain drainage and
  gratings, and provide mats or raised platforms.
• Keep every floor, working place and passageway
  free from protruding nails, splinters, holes or
  loose boards.

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General requirementshousekeeping

• Place equipment needed for housekeeping, such as
  mops, absorbents, brooms and trash containers, in
  locations where they are frequently used and kept
  available.
• All levels of the organization should practice
  good housekeeping measures whenever a condition
  is noted that could results in a slip, trip or
  fall.

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Human factors

• Eyesight
• Age
• Balance
• Medications, alcohol and drug effects

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Summary

• It is important to properly engineer walking and
  working surfaces to avoid the potential for
  slips, trips and falls.
• Use proper fall-protection systems when working
  on elevated surfaces.
• Obtain and use proper personal protective
  equipment to reduce the potential for falls.
• Management should implement good housekeeping
  practices and ensure its done on a regular basis.
• Train employees in the prevention of slips, trips
  and falls.

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Questions?