2. SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS Marissa Salo Morgan, MS Safety and Health Specialist Montana Department of Labor and Industry Occupational Safety and Health Bureau Safety Fest 2010 - Missoula

3. HOW IS YOUR DAY GOING? Better than this…I hope

4. LEGAL

5. OSH Act Sec 5(a) Each employer… o (1) shall furnish each of his/her employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause, death or serious physical harm to his/her employees; o (2) shall comply with the occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act. (b) Each employee... o shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act which are applicable to his/her own actions and conduct

6. CFR 1910.22 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (a) Housekeeping. o All places of employment, shall be kept clean, orderly and sanitary. o The floor shall be clean and, so far as possible dry o Every floor shall be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes, or loose boards.

7. CFR 1910.22 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (b) Aisles and passageways. o Sufficient safe clearances shall be allowed. Aisles shall be kept clear and in good repairs (c) Covers and guardrails. o Covers and/or guardrails shall be provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.

8. ECONOMICAL

11. DEFINITIONS

12. WHAT ARE SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS? Slip o Occurs when there is too little traction or friction between the shoe and walking surface. Trip o Occurs when a persons foot contacts an object in their way or drops to a lower level unexpectedly. Fall o Occurs when you are too far off balance.

13. HOW DO FALLS HAPPEN? Both slops and trips result from some a kind of unintended or unexpected change in the contact between the feet and the ground or walking surface.

14. TYPES OF FALLS Same Level o When you fall to the surface you are walking on. Same level falls are more common. From Elevation o When you fall to a level below the one you are walking on. Falls from elevation are more severe.

16. NATIONAL STATISTICS

17. FALLS According to the U.S. Department of Labor, slips, trips and falls are the most common occupational accident. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 234,840 employees suffered non-fatal injuries in the work environment in 2008. The Bureau reported that 579 (preliminary) employees died from a fall in 2009.

18. MONTANA STATISTICS

19. Reference: Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Employment Relations Division, Workers Compensation Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2009.

20. SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS FOR MONTANA 2009 22.6% of work injuries were caused by slips, trips, and falls. 2008 21.3% of work injuries were caused by slips, trips, and falls. 21.3% Reference: Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Employment Relations Division, Workers Compensation Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2009 and 2008.

30. SLIPS

31. CAUSES OF SLIPS There are many different causes of slips. Here are just a few examples: o Wet spills or contamination on floors: Water Mud Oil/grease Food, etc. o Dry contamination on floors: Dusts Wood, Powders, etc.

32. CAUSES OF SLIPS Loose, unanchored mats Transitioning from one surface to another Dirty shoes Highly polished floors Little traction

33. CAUSES OF SLIPS Environmental factors: o Rain, snow, frost, ice Irregular surfaces, such as gravel or bricks

34. CAUSES OF SLIPS Loose tiles or floorboards that can shift Ramps without skid or slip resistant surfaces Metal surfaces

35. ACTIVITY How is your traction…??

36. TRIPS

37. CAUSES OF TRIPS There are many factors that contribute to trips. Here are a few examples: o Uncovered cables, wires or extension cords o Clutter, obstacles in walkways

38. CAUSES OF TRIPS Irregular walking surfaces Changes in elevation (e.g., unmarked steps) Damaged steps Non-uniform or irregular steps: o Varying tread depth, varying height

39. CAUSES OF TRIPS Carpets or mats that are not lying flat or have rolled up edges Missing or uneven floor tiles Uneven surfaces

40. CAUSES OF TRIPS Objects protruding from walking surfaces Sidewalk/curb drops Uneven surfaces

41. SLIPS, TRIPS….AND FALLS

42. ACTIVITY Can you get in your vehicle…?

43. MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING SAFELY Make sure your shoes are clean of any mud, snow, grease, or any other slippery substance. Make sure the step, foothold or platform that you will be using is also clean, free of defects and properly secured. Always face the equipment when mounting or dismounting. Have a firm hold with your hands and step up, placing your foothold under the arch. Keep three points of contact at all times. Do not jump off while dismounting – step down carefully while facing the equipment.

44. RISK FACTORS

45. RISK FACTORS THAT COULD INCREASE STF Age Body shape, size and mass Walking dynamics Physical condition, illness Psychological factors, stress and distractions Medications, alcohol or drug effects Visual perception

46. RISK FACTORS THAT COULD INCREASE STF Poor lighting Glare Using bulky equipment or awkward clothing, PPE Loud noise or distraction Temperature or precipitation Traffic type or volume Change in elevation while walking

47. HUMAN FACTORS

48. Poor housekeeping Using improper cleaning processes Failing to use signs when slip, trip, and fall hazards are present Inattentive walking Taking shortcuts Being in a hurry

49. HUMAN FACTORS Improper footwear for work environments or environmental conditions.

50. ACTIVITY What are some solutions…?

51. PREVENTION TECHNIQUES

52. SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS ARE PREVENTABLE! Here are some prevention techniques: Mapping Safety Inspections Hazard Elimination Good housekeeping Proper floor mats Non-slip materials

53. MAPPING Mapping is an excellent method for identifying problem areas. Overtime recording where and when slips, trips, or falls occur will help you identify and reduce the hazards. First, obtain a drawing of the floor plan including the parking lot.

54. MAPPING Second, start a log where you can record each slip, trip and/or fall. The log should record the following: o Who o Where o When o What they were doing o Conditions during the fall o Assign a unique number/letter to each incident

55. MAPPING Third, mark the map with the identification number to indicate where the slip, trip, and/or fall happened. Overtime, you will be able to identify the problems. This information can be used to take corrective actions.

56. SAFETY INSPECTIONS Develop a policy for conducting safety inspections. Conduct safety inspections. Some areas of the facility may need to be checked more often than others. Document when the safety inspections are conducted. Eliminate the hazard.

57. HAZARD ELIMINATION Keep all aisles and walkways free of debris Clean up all spills immediately Install guard rails around openings Keep working areas and walkways well lit Cover cables that cross walkways Keep stairs free of clutter Spread sand and/or salt on icy surfaces

58. HOUSEKEEPING Keep the place of employment clean and sanitary. Develop cleaning schedules Assign a spot for everything Remove garbage, out of service equipment, broken tool, etc. from the worksite Install non-slip materials

59. FLOOR MATS Entry mats should be long enough to clean shoes; 12 steps Use open holed mats in wash areas or in font of ice machines Removable high friction mats could be used in walk in freezers Anti fatigue mats should not be so thick as to pose a tripping hazard

60. FLOOR MATS Entryway Office/Plant Cafeteria/Restaurants Cushion

61. NON-SLIP MATERIALS Consider non-slip shoes for areas where the floors maybe slick or wet Provide a traction device for slippery shoes in winter months Apply non-slip material to ramps, steps, etc… o Paint o Tapes o Treads

62. TIPS

63. TIPS TO PREVENT INJURIES Exercise daily to improve strength, flexibility and balance Stretch daily Choose low-impact exercises to help improve balance and reduce stress on joints (e.g., yoga, Pilates)

64. IF YOU ARE FALLING… Tuck your chin in, turn your head, and throw an arm up. While falling, twist or roll your body to the side. Keep your wrists, elbows and knees bent. Do not try to break the fall with your hands or elbows. Dont move if you think youve hurt yourself. Wait for help.

65. ACTIVITY A-Z List…

66. CONCLUSION Slips, trips, and falls can be prevented if you are alert and safety conscious! Pay attention to your movements and surroundings. Remove potential hazards from your path so you, and others wont be injured by slips, trips, and falls.