Kern CountyKern County

FALL PROTECTION:FALL PROTECTION: SLIPS, TRIPS, AND SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLSFALLS

INJURY PREVENTION

You take hundreds of steps every day, You take hundreds of steps every day, but how many of those steps do you but how many of those steps do you take seriously? By taking a few take seriously? By taking a few minutes to understand how slips, minutes to understand how slips, trips, and falls happen, you can trips, and falls happen, you can prevent needless and painful injuries.prevent needless and painful injuries.

SLIPS!! :to slide along

smoothly resulting in a sudden mishap.

Weather conditions may cause the floors to be wet or the ground to be icy.

Watch were you are stepping and use caution on wet floors and ice to avoid slipping.

TRIPS!! :to catch the foot

on something so as to stumble. Damaged steps or

misplaced items are major factors in trips.

Make sure that steps you use often are in good shape and that items (that do not belong on the steps) are out of the way.

Use handrails when ascending or descending stairs.

WHAT CAN YOU WHAT CAN YOU DO?DO? If something is creating If something is creating a potential slip, trip, or a potential slip, trip, or fall hazard fall hazard fix itfix it (clean (clean it up - move it).it up - move it).

Place signs to Place signs to warn warn othersothers of the potential of the potential hazard.hazard.

If you can not fix it - If you can not fix it - Place a work orderPlace a work order..

FALLS!! :to descend freely

by the force of gravity.

Eliminate the hazard when possible (i.e. broken chair, unstable ladder, etc...)

Practice good judgement - Don’t lean back in chairs, don’t climb on unstable shelving or tables.

OTHER HAZARDSPrevent a potential Prevent a potential injury by cleaning up injury by cleaning up spills and wet floorsspills and wet floors..

Keep isles and Keep isles and walkways clear of walkways clear of clutter or clutter or obstructions.obstructions.

Pick up objects Pick up objects and move and move extension cords to extension cords to eliminate the eliminate the potential for potential for injury.injury.

FOOTWEAR Use good

judgement with regard to footwear while on duty. Be certain footwear is in good condition and appropriate to your job function and outside weather condition.

1. In 2003/2004 fiscal year how many county employees had a slip and fall injury and reported it.

122 765 1123 266 511 9027

2. What did they cost the county?

1,000,000

1,250,000

1,700,000

What accounts for the most falls?

Ladders

Stairs and steps

Slippery floors

BOSE (brain off somewhere else)

Notify Supervisor Employees should

immediately report all work related injuries to their supervisor.

Place a work order or use the Report of Unsafe Conditions form to get the problem fixed.

Be safe out there

Watch where you’re walking…..