Slips, Trips, and Slips, Trips, and Falls PreventionFalls Prevention

Now what could go wrong here?????Now what could go wrong here?????

• A teacher falls as he walks to the A teacher falls as he walks to the blackboard and a students asks, blackboard and a students asks, “Have a good trip?” “Have a good trip?”

• The jokes are familiar, but slips are The jokes are familiar, but slips are no laughing matter. They take a no laughing matter. They take a heavy toll on the number of heavy toll on the number of workplace injuries and lost workdays. workplace injuries and lost workdays.

It’s No Laughing MatterIt’s No Laughing Matter

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls to the According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls to the same level are one of the most common causes of same level are one of the most common causes of injuries on the job.injuries on the job.

SSlips-lips-TTrips-rips-FFalls (STF)alls (STF)

• Can occur in any part of the workplace whether Can occur in any part of the workplace whether inside or outside.inside or outside.

• May result in serious injuriesMay result in serious injuries• Significant cost to both the worker and employerSignificant cost to both the worker and employer

Impact To Worker: Impact To Employer:

• Pain • Lost wages • Temporary or permanent disability• Reduced quality of life• Depression

• Lost productivity• Costs of replacement employee• Cost of medical treatment

Definitions of Slips, Trips & FallsDefinitions of Slips, Trips & FallsSTF Friction: The resistance encountered when an object (foot) is moved in contact with another (ground).

Friction is necessary in order to walk without slipping.

When your foot (or lower leg) hits an object and your upper body continues moving, throwing you off balance.

When you are too far off your center of balance.

When you step down unexpectedly to a lower surface (Misstep) and lose your balance, e.g., stepping off a curb.

When there is too little friction or traction between your feet (footwear) and the walking or working surface, and you lose your balance.

Slip TripSlip Trip

FallFall

Common types of Slips, Trips & Common types of Slips, Trips & Falls Injuries:Falls Injuries:

• Sprains & strainsSprains & strains

• Bruises & contusionsBruises & contusions

• FracturesFractures

• Abrasions & lacerationsAbrasions & lacerations

Commonly affected Body Parts:Commonly affected Body Parts:

• Knee, Ankle, FootKnee, Ankle, Foot

• Wrist, ElbowWrist, Elbow

• BackBack

• ShoulderShoulder

• HipHip

• HeadHead

What causes slips, trips and falls?What causes slips, trips and falls?

• SlipsSlips can occur when floors or other working surfaces can occur when floors or other working surfaces become slippery due to wet or oily processes, floor become slippery due to wet or oily processes, floor cleaning, leaks, or from materials and debris left in cleaning, leaks, or from materials and debris left in walkways. walkways.

• TripsTrips can occur due to uneven floor or working surfaces, can occur due to uneven floor or working surfaces, protruding nails and boards, from stretched carpet or protruding nails and boards, from stretched carpet or bunched floor mats intended to prevent slipping, from bunched floor mats intended to prevent slipping, from holes or depressions in working surfaces, and from step-holes or depressions in working surfaces, and from step-risers on stairs that are not uniform in height. risers on stairs that are not uniform in height.

• Both slips and trips can result in fallsBoth slips and trips can result in falls. In addition, falls can . In addition, falls can occur when ladders are not maintained properly, and when occur when ladders are not maintained properly, and when stairways and elevated working surfaces are not designed stairways and elevated working surfaces are not designed properly.properly.

Many Could Have Been PreventedMany Could Have Been Prevented

• According to the U. S. Department of Labor, According to the U. S. Department of Labor, slips, trips, and falls make up the majority of slips, trips, and falls make up the majority of general industry accidents.general industry accidents.

• 8.6 million visits to the emergency room each 8.6 million visits to the emergency room each year in the U.S. are attributed to fallsyear in the U.S. are attributed to falls

• In Fiscal Year 2011-12, approximately 1400 In Fiscal Year 2011-12, approximately 1400 employee workers’ compensation claims were employee workers’ compensation claims were attributed to slips, trips or falls which cost attributed to slips, trips or falls which cost nearly $10 millionnearly $10 million

• The incidence of slips, trips and falls at work The incidence of slips, trips and falls at work may be even higher than the numbers may be even higher than the numbers show. show.

• Many workers do not report incidents Many workers do not report incidents because they may be minor and make them because they may be minor and make them appear clumsy. This is a mistake. appear clumsy. This is a mistake.

• Minor incidents that are reported may be Minor incidents that are reported may be clues to troublesome areas needing repairs, clues to troublesome areas needing repairs, and may help prevent a major incident from and may help prevent a major incident from occurring.occurring.

Report and InvestigateReport and Investigate

Factors Increasing the RiskFactors Increasing the Risk

ClutterClutterNot Paying AttentionNot Paying Attention

Look familiar??

Safety RemindersSafety Reminders

Supervisors should stress these Supervisors should stress these simple safety reminders:simple safety reminders:

• If you drop it, pick it up.If you drop it, pick it up.

• If you spill it, wipe it up.If you spill it, wipe it up.

• Go where you are looking, and Go where you are looking, and look where you are going.look where you are going.

Take Control of Your EnvironmentTake Control of Your Environment

To further reduce the risk of falls, employees should ensure that:To further reduce the risk of falls, employees should ensure that:

• Aisles are clearAisles are clear

• Floors are clean Floors are clean

• Signs are present to warn of slippery areasSigns are present to warn of slippery areas

• They wear shoes with good support and slip resistant solesThey wear shoes with good support and slip resistant soles

• Cabinets and drawers are closedCabinets and drawers are closed

• Guests get the assistance they needGuests get the assistance they need

• Never stand on a chair, table or surface Never stand on a chair, table or surface with wheelswith wheels

OSHA Regulations OSHA Regulations General RequirementsGeneral Requirements

• Housekeeping– Workplaces shall be kept clean, orderly, and sanitary.Workplaces shall be kept clean, orderly, and sanitary.

– Workroom floors shall be maintained as clean and dry as Workroom floors shall be maintained as clean and dry as possible.possible.

– Every floor, working Every floor, working place and passagewayplace and passagewayshall be kept free fromshall be kept free fromprotruding nails, splinters,protruding nails, splinters,holes, or loose boards.holes, or loose boards.

§1910.22(a)

HousekeepingHousekeeping

• Close file cabinet or storage drawersClose file cabinet or storage drawers

• Report cables/wires that cross walkwayReport cables/wires that cross walkway

• Keep working areas and walkways well lit Keep working areas and walkways well lit and clearand clear

• Report burned out bulbsReport burned out bulbs

• Be aware of your surroundings and Be aware of your surroundings and correct any perceived hazardcorrect any perceived hazard

Housekeeping DON’Ts…………Housekeeping DON’Ts…………DON’TDON’T

•Prop fire doors open. •Store materials in stairwells. •Store trash cans in front of doorway. •Use chair to block an emergency cut-off valve. •Place chairs in dangerous areas. For example, the chair in the picture could represent a struck against hazard.

DO……… DO……… CORRECT or REPORT these CORRECT or REPORT these HAZARDS!HAZARDS!

• Aisles and passageways– Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good

repair.repair.

– Permanent aisles and passageways shall be marked.Permanent aisles and passageways shall be marked.

– Where mechanical handling equipment is used, aisles, Where mechanical handling equipment is used, aisles, loading docks, and doorways shall maintain sufficient safe loading docks, and doorways shall maintain sufficient safe clearances. clearances.

OSHA General RequirementsOSHA General Requirements§1910.22(b)

Sidewalks and CrosswalksSidewalks and Crosswalks

Report these dangersReport these dangers

Slips on IceSlips on Ice

• Snow and ice are not Snow and ice are not common in Los Angeles common in Los Angeles but it does happen but it does happen occasionally.occasionally.

• Be aware of slippery Be aware of slippery areas surfaces outdoors areas surfaces outdoors in parking lots and in parking lots and walkwayswalkways

Slips on IceSlips on Ice• Use appropriate footwear Use appropriate footwear - In icy weather, ladies should

leave the heels at home. Ideally, wear boots or shoes with a good grip and strong soles. Shoes with built-in support at the ankles will protect you from potential ankle injuries should you fall.

• Use special care when entering and exiting vehiclesUse special care when entering and exiting vehicles; use the vehicle for support.

• Walk in designated walkwaysWalk in designated walkways as much as possible. Taking shortcuts over snow piles and other frozen areas can be hazardous.

• Look ahead when you walkLook ahead when you walk; a snow- or ice covered sidewalk or driveway, may require travel along its grassy edge for traction.

Slip, Trip and Fall HazardSlip, Trip and Fall HazardPROBLEM:

SlipSlip: if it is wet outside and the mat is folded back, then the floor is getting wet instead of the mat absorbing the water.

TripTrip: the mat is folded back and someone could catch their foot on the mat and trip.

FallFall: both a wet floor and caught foot could contribute to a fall.

CORRECT this HAZARD!CORRECT this HAZARD!

Working Safely on LaddersWorking Safely on Ladders

• Choose the appropriate ladder Choose the appropriate ladder for the jobfor the job

• Place the base on a firm, solid Place the base on a firm, solid surfacesurface

• Face the ladder and grip the Face the ladder and grip the rungs, not the side rails when rungs, not the side rails when you climbyou climb

• Always keep 3 points of contact Always keep 3 points of contact with the ladder with the ladder (2 hands, 1 foot or 2 feet, 1 hand)(2 hands, 1 foot or 2 feet, 1 hand)

The Don’t of Ladders SafetyThe Don’t of Ladders Safety

• Do not climb with tools in handDo not climb with tools in hand

• Do not lean or overreach. Reposition the ladder closer to Do not lean or overreach. Reposition the ladder closer to the work instead.the work instead.

• Do not step on the top rungDo not step on the top rung

ResourcesResources

• Office of Environmental Health and Safety http://www.lausd-oehs.org or Phone 213-241-3199

• American National Standards Institute http://www.ansi.org/

• OSHA http://www.osha.gov

• NIOSH http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html