Slips, Trips

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Slips, Trips Falls
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Objectives

• Identify what causes falls
• Identify preventative actions
• Commit to action

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OSHA Case 1 Slip Leads to Infection Death

• Janitor slips in kitchen of hotel
• Breaks rib and punctures lung
• Becomes infected with pneumonia
• Dies from infection
• OSHA case 170709059 5/11/95

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OSHA Case 2Slip Causes Head Injury Death

• Employee slips on liquid spill in warehouse
• Struck head on floor
• Had emergency brain operation
• Died from heart failure
• OSHA case 200350239 2/24/97

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OSHA Case 3Fall on Stairs Causes Death

• Office employee tripped/slipped on stair
• Fell down stairs and landed with her head in the
  sheetrock wall
• Died from skull fracture, cerebral contusion, and
  subdural hemotoma
• OSHA case 1701011109 2/9/95

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OSHA Case 4 Employee Breaks Hip in Fall from
Table

• Housekeeper stands on table to reach light
  fixture
• Table tipped causing employee to fall
• Table landed on hip
• Employee broke hip
• OSHA Case 905786 4/6/95

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Slips, Trips Falls at PLU

• 46 of reported injuries at PLU (so far in 2000)
  are slips, trips, and falls.
• Most of these slip, trip, fall injuries (59)
  occurred on flat surfaces, usually caused by
  liquid spills.
• Others were falls on stairs and trips over
  obstructions.

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PLU Case 1Limited Vision Contributes to Fall

• 10/17/00
• Employee carried high stacked material blocking
  vision
• Cart blocked pathway
• Employee tripped and fell

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PLU Case 2Slip Leads to Broken Window Injured
Knee

• 6/8/00
• Employee slipped on stairs and fell down stairs
• Window at base of stair broke fall
• Injury required medical treatment

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PLU Case 3Congestion Creates Hazard

• Employee tripped on heel of another employee in
  congested work space
• Fell to ground
• Aggravated pre-existing medical condition

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Group Activity

• Brainstorm specific causes of slips, trips and
  falls in our work areas.
• Brainstorm actions one can take to prevent slips,
  trips, and falls.

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Independent Activity

• Select one activity that you can control and will
  personally take responsibility for doing in the
  next week to reduce slips, trips and falls in
  your work place. Write it down.
• Select one activity that you will propose to your
  supervisor or other PLU entity to reduce slips,
  trips and falls in your work place. Write it
  down.

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Summary

• Most Accidents at PLU are slips, trips, or falls.
• While most falls cause minor injuries, people
  have been hospitalized or died from falls.
• We can all reduce injuries by eliminating hazards
  in our work environment.