Slips, Trips, and Falls

Fall Factors v Friction v Momentum v Gravity 1a

What happens when you slip v Loss of balance caused by too little friction v Loss of traction v Wet surfaces v Spills 2a

What happens when you slip v Weather hazards v Potential solutions Practice safe walking skillsPractice safe walking skills Clean up spillsClean up spills Keep grease off shop floorsKeep grease off shop floors Be cautious on smooth surfacesBe cautious on smooth surfaces 2b

Preventing slips v Use appropriate footwear v Increase friction between shoes and walking surface 3a

Preventing slips v Strap-on cleats v Proper footwear selection 3b

Why trips occur v When a person trips: Worker’s foot hits an objectWorker’s foot hits an object Balance is thrown offBalance is thrown off Creates momentum to fallCreates momentum to fall 4a

Why trips occur v Cluttered work areas v Poor lighting v Area has loose footing 4b

Why trips occur v Worker is in a hurry v Worker is inattentive 4c

Preventing trips v Ensure you can see over the load you are carrying v Ensure adequate lighting v Keep work areas free of clutter/litter 5a

Preventing trips v Keep furniture out of walkways/traffic areas v Tape down extension cords/keep out of walkways 5b

Preventing trips v Eliminate loose footing on stairs, steps, floors v Properly store ramps and gangplanks in loading dock areas 5c

Why falls occur v Person moves too far away from center of balance v Caused by: Makeshift laddersMakeshift ladders Misuse of laddersMisuse of ladders Poor climbing habitsPoor climbing habits Improper scaffolding useImproper scaffolding use 6a

Preventing falls v Don’t jump from elevations DocksDocks TrucksTrucks Work stagesWork stages v Ensure adequate lighting 7a

Preventing falls v Repair or report loose or broken stairs, handrails v Don’t use stairs/aisles as storage areas v Wear appropriate footwear 7b

Prevent injury on stairs v Use handrails whenever possible v Walk up and down stairs; don’t run v Ensure you can see over the load you are carrying 8a

Prevent injury on stairs v Report unsafe conditions, including broken: Stair treadsStair treads Floor boardsFloor boards HandrailsHandrails 8b

Ladder and scaffold safety v Don’t use makeshift ladders Piling up boxes, chairs, benchesPiling up boxes, chairs, benches v Inspect ladders before use Missing or broken rungsMissing or broken rungs 9a

Ladder and scaffold safety v Face the ladder when climbing v Use both hands on ladders v Hoist materials up to you 9b

Ladder and scaffold safety v Keep your center of balance on ladder v Adjust position of ladder - don’t overreach v Use the four-to-one rule For every foot up, have 3 inches (1/4 foot) outFor every foot up, have 3 inches (1/4 foot) out 9c

Ladder and scaffold safety v One person at a time on a ladder v Don’t stand on top step of ladder v Stay away from ladders to avoid falling objects 9d

Ladder and scaffold safety v Check scaffolding daily for defects v Clear work surfaces of snow, ice, slippery material 9e

Ladder and scaffold safety v Respect the load limits of scaffolds v Lock wheels/casters on mobile scaffolding v Use proper PPE 9f

Summary of main points v Fall factors v Why slips occur v Why trips occur 10a

Summary of main points v Why falls occur v Hazards of stairs v Ladder and scaffold safety 10b