Slips, Trips, Falls · 2019. 12. 3. · Slips, Trips, and Falls Editor: Emily Hanson Slips, trips,...
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December 2019 By: Brett Wardle Slips, Trips, and Falls Editor: Emily Hanson Slips, trips, and falls occur every day. The extent of injuries and their recurrence can be minimized through proper safety knowledge and attitudes. lt is best to practice saf€ty, rather than learn it through experience. There are various ways to suffer slips, trips, and falls while working. Employees could slip and lose balance, trip over objects left in the walkway, or simply fall from an elevated position above the grou nd. SLIPS Slips can be caused by wet surfaces, spills, or weather hazards such as ice or snow. Slips are more likely to occur when hurrying or runnihB, wearing the wrong kind of shoes , or not paying attention when walking. To avoid slips, be on the lookout for foreign substances on the floors. Watch for deposits of water, resin beads, grease, oil, spills, or debris. Even small quantities are enough to cause a fall. When entering a building from the outdoors, especially during winter weather, clean footwear thoroughly. Snowy and rainy weather requires cleaning the soles of your shoes. Don't go too fast, walk safely, and avoid changing directions too sh a rp ly. TRIPS Trips occur when a person's hits an object and is moving with enough momentum to be thrown off balance. Trash, unused materials, any object left in an aisle or other areas designed for pedestrian traffic invites falls. Extension cords, tools, carts, and other items should be removed, routed overhead, or properly barricaded off. Report any equipment or supplies that are left in walkways, keep passageways clear of debris, and walk in designated walkways. Shortcuts through machine areas invite accidents. Horseplay and inattention leaves a person vulnerable to unsafe conditions, so pay attention to where you are going. FALLS The worst falls are from elevated positions, such as ladders and scaffolding. Falls can result in serious injuries and death. Learn and practice ladder safety and the proper use of scaffolding. Hold on to handrails when using stairs or ramps; they are there for protection in case a fall occurs. lf carrying a heavy load hampers the ability to properly ascend or descend stairs, use an elevator or find help. When climbing, use a ladder of proper length that is in good condition. Keep it placed on a firm surface. Do not climb a ladder placed on machinery, crates, stock, or boxes. Keep the ladder's base one foot away from the wall for every four feet of height. Don't over reach. Always have control of your balance when working from a ladder. Never climb a ladder with your hands full and always carry tools in proper carrying devices. When using a scaffold be sure it is assembled correctly and properly tagged. Scaffolds should never be altered by the user. If changes to the scaffold need to be made, contact the scaffold crew who will make the changes and h ave it re-inspected. Standing and working planks should be level and clean. Use toe boards to prevent tools from falling and workers from slipping.
Transcript of Slips, Trips, Falls · 2019. 12. 3. · Slips, Trips, and Falls Editor: Emily Hanson Slips, trips,...
December 2019By: Brett Wardle
Slips, Trips, andFalls
Editor: Emily Hanson
Slips, trips, and falls occur every day. The extent ofinjuries and their recurrence can be minimizedthrough proper safety knowledge and attitudes. lt isbest to practice saf€ty, rather than learn it throughexperience.
There are various ways to suffer slips, trips, and fallswhile working. Employees could slip and lose
balance, trip over objects left in the walkway, orsimply fall from an elevated position above thegrou nd.
SLIPS
Slips can be caused by wet surfaces, spills, or weatherhazards such as ice or snow. Slips are more likely tooccur when hurrying or runnihB, wearing the wrongkind of shoes , or not paying attention when walking.
To avoid slips, be on the lookout for foreignsubstances on the floors. Watch for deposits ofwater, resin beads, grease, oil, spills, or debris. Even
small quantities are enough to cause a fall.
When entering a building from the outdoors,especially during winter weather, clean footwearthoroughly. Snowy and rainy weather requirescleaning the soles of your shoes. Don't go too fast,walk safely, and avoid changing directions toosh a rp ly.
TRIPS
Trips occur when a person's hits an object and is
moving with enough momentum to be thrown offbalance. Trash, unused materials, any object left inan aisle or other areas designed for pedestrian trafficinvites falls. Extension cords, tools, carts, and otheritems should be removed, routed overhead, orproperly barricaded off.
Report any equipment or supplies that are left inwalkways, keep passageways clear of debris, and walkin designated walkways. Shortcuts through machine
areas invite accidents. Horseplay and inattentionleaves a person vulnerable to unsafe conditions, so
pay attention to where you are going.
FALLS
The worst falls are from elevated positions, such as
ladders and scaffolding. Falls can result in seriousinjuries and death. Learn and practice ladder safetyand the proper use of scaffolding. Hold on tohandrails when using stairs or ramps; they are therefor protection in case a fall occurs.
lf carrying a heavy load hampers the ability toproperly ascend or descend stairs, use an elevator orfind help. When climbing, use a ladder of properlength that is in good condition. Keep it placed on afirm surface.
Do not climb a ladder placed on machinery, crates,stock, or boxes. Keep the ladder's base one footaway from the wall for every four feet of height.
Don't over reach. Always have control of yourbalance when working from a ladder. Never climb aladder with your hands full and always carry tools inproper carrying devices.
When using a scaffold be sure it is assembledcorrectly and properly tagged. Scaffolds should neverbe altered by the user. If changes to the scaffoldneed to be made, contact the scaffold crew who willmake the changes andh ave it re-inspected.
Standing and workingplanks should be level
and clean. Use toeboards to prevent
tools from falling and
workers from slipping.
