Slips trips falls

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CPWR TOOLBOX THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING TALK Falls: Extension Ladders Each year, construction workers fall from ladders and are injured or die. Most of these falls are from extension ladders and occur when the ladder slips, the supports move, or the worker loses balance. ## Raul's Story Raul was climbing down a 24-foot extensionladder. Suddenly the ladder slipped. He lost his balance and fell 12 feet onto a concrete surface. Raul suffered head injuries and a broken hand. * Have you ever fallen or do you know anyone who has fallen from an extension ladder? If so, what happened? * How could this incident have been prevented? ## Remember This ➤ Whenever possible, use an aerial lift or scaffold to work at heights. ➤ Conduct regular inspections and maintenance on extension ladders. Inspect the rails, rungs, feet, and spreaders or rung locks for defects or damage every time you use it. If you see any damage, tag it "do not use" and request another ladder. ➤ Always check your ladder's duty rating to make sure it will support you and your toolbelt! ➤ Use both hands when climbing up and down a ladder. ## Placement tips ➤ Set your ladder on a solid, stable base and at the correct 4-to-1 angle: for every 4 rungs, place the ladder back 1 foot. As a check, put your feet on the feet of the ladder and extend your arms straight forward; you should just be able to touch a rung of the ladder. ➤ Use the NIOSH Ladder Safety app to check the placement of your ladder (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/mobileapp.html). ➤ Screw a 2' x 4' cleat to the ground behind the ladder's feet to prevent the ladder from slipping backward. ➤ Tie off the top of the ladder, and the bottom if possible, to prevent it from slipping sideways. - Extend the ladder 3 feet above the landing. ## How can we stay safe today? What will we do at the worksite to prevent falls from extension ladders? - 1. - 2. OSHA Regulation: 1926.1053 ©2017, CPWR-The Center for C…

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# Plumber (cont.) ## Safety Procedures (cont.) Follow a recommended shift work pattern, and know the associated hazards. - Practice safety procedures for: - Confined space entry - Working at heights - Working with hand tools, and power tools - De-energizing and locking out machinery and equipment before performing maintenance - Selection, use, and maintenance of personal protective equipment - Lifting - Shift work - Avoiding slips, trips and falls - Heat exposure ## Working Safely with Sewage Health effects of exposure to sewage and contaminated soil include: - Tetanus - caused by a toxin produced by bacteria common in soil and sewage. - Leptospirosis - caused by a parasitic worm. - Hepatitis A, B or C. - Bacteria such as E. coli, and parasites such as giardia and cryptosporidium. Human pathogens from soil and raw sewage can enter the body through the nose or mouth, particularly if a person drinks contaminated water or by touching contamination and then touching your mouth or nose. Exposure can also occur through open wounds or by inhaling (human pathogens in dust, for example). - Avoid exposure to sewage by wearing gloves, coveralls, rubber boots, eye protection, washing your hands, and decontaminating your equipment after use. - Do not eat or drink while working in a potentially contaminated area. Wash your hands before meals. - After working with raw sewage or soil, wash immediately with soap and water. Do not use solvents to wash your hands as the solvents can cause irritation that may lead to skin infections. Learn more about handwashing and the risk of infections. Plumber CCOHS

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# Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls (cont.) ## Trips (cont.) - poor lighting - clutter in your way - wrinkled carpeting - uncovered cables - bottom drawers not being closed - uneven (steps, thresholds) walking surfaces ## How to prevent falls due to slips and trips? Both slips and trips result from unintended or unexpected change in the contact between the feet and the ground or walking surface. This fact shows that good housekeeping, quality of walking surfaces (flooring), selection of proper footwear, and appropriate pace of walking are critical for preventing fall incidents. ## Housekeeping Good housekeeping is the first and the most important (fundamental) level of preventing falls due to slips and trips. It includes: - cleaning all spills immediately - marking spills and wet areas - mopping or sweeping debris from floors removing obstacles from walkways and always keeping walkways free of clutter - securing (tacking, taping, etc.) mats, rugs and carpets that do not lay flat - always closing file cabinet or storage drawers - covering cables that cross walkways - keeping working areas and walkways well lit - replacing used light bulbs and faulty switches Without good housekeeping practices, any other preventive measures such as installation of sophisticated flooring, specialty footwear or training on techniques of walking and safe falling will never be fully effective. For more information about effective housekeeping, visit the OSH Answers document on Workplace Housekeeping - Basic Guide. Flooring Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls CCOHS

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CCOHSOCCHST Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Centre canadien d'hygiène et de sécurité au travail Powered Hand Tools # Powered Hand Tools - Planers ## On this page What should you do before you start cutting with a planer? What should you do while cutting with a planer? ## What should you do before you start cutting with a planer? - Wear safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield (with safety glasses or goggles). - Use hearing protection suitable for the noise level of the planer. - Use a respirator if working in dusty environments, especially with materials like hardwood or particleboard. - Avoid wearing loose or baggy clothing and make sure that long hair is tied back. - Disconnect the planer from the power supply (unplug or remove the battery) before making any adjustments to the cutter head or blades. - Ensure the switch is in the off position before plugging it in or reconnecting power. - Use blades of the same weight and set at the same height for balance and smooth operation. - Make sure that the blade-locking screws are tight to prevent movement during use. - Remove adjusting keys, wrenches, or other tools before turning on the power. - Support the material (stock) in a stable and comfortable position to make sure safe and accurate cuts. - Check stock thoroughly for staples, nails, screws, knots, or other foreign objects that could damage the blades or cause injury. - Do not cut stock less than 20 cm (8 inches) long or 1 cm (0.5 inches) thick. - Make sure the work area is clean and free from debris that could cause slips, trips, or falls. - Maintain proper lighting to see the planer and stock clearly. - Avoid distractions while operating the planer. Powered Hand Tools Planers CCOHS

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CCOHS CCHST Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Centre canadien d'hygiène et de sécurité au travail Safety Hazards # Parking Lots - Fall Prevention ## On this page Do parking lots pose special hazards? What factors contribute to fall incidents in a parking lot? Are speed bumps a fall hazard? Are tire stops hazardous? How can you prevent falls? What does good housekeeping mean in terms of parking lots? What responsibilities do workers have? ## Do parking lots pose special hazards? Parking lots are a part of many workplaces. Even though you may not be conducting your job there (unless you are a parking attendant or maintenance worker), there is still a possibility that you can be injured. Besides the risk of violence, the major risk includes falls resulting from slips and trips. Workplaces can help reduce slip, trip, and fall injuries by having a written policy or procedure about the safe walking conditions and surfaces. Parking lots should be inspected on a regular basis and any defects repaired. ## What factors contribute to fall incidents in a parking lot? A smooth, even, flat surface is ideal for walking because it reduces the likelihood of twisted ankles or loss of balance which can lead to falls and other painful mishaps. However, heavy use by both pedestrians and vehicle traffic both cause a parking surface to deteriorate. Figure 1 shows examples of damage to look for such as broken pavement, and gratings. Parking Lots - Fall Prevention CCOHS

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CCOHSOCCHST Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Centre canadien d'hygiène et de sécurité au travail Safety Hazards # Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls ## On this page How do falls happen? How to prevent falls due to slips and trips? What can you do to avoid falling at work? ## How do falls happen? Statistics show that the majority (67%) of falls happen on the same level resulting from slips and trips. The remaining 30% are falls from a height. This document will summarize information on "falls on the same level" (slips and trips). Falls from an elevation, such as falls from ladders, roofs, down stairs or from jumping to a lower level, etc., is discussed in other documents since each type of fall must be assessed as part of a fall prevention program. ## Slips Slips happen where there is too little friction or traction between the footwear and the walking surface. Common causes of slips are: - wet or oily surfaces - occasional spills - weather hazards - loose, unanchored rugs or mats - flooring or other walking surfaces that do not have the same degree of traction in all areas ## Trips Trips happen when your foot collides (strikes, hits) an object causing you to lose balance and, eventually fall. Common causes of tripping are: obstructed view Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls CCOHS

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CCOHS CCHST Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Centre canadien d'hygiène et de sécurité au travail Safety Hazards # Stairways - Fall Prevention On this page Why do we need to worry so much about falls on stairs? What factors must we consider in designing safer stairs? ## Why do we need to worry so much about falls on stairs? The majority of stairway falls result from a loss of balance. For information about falls on the same level, please see our OSH Answers document on Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls. A very common contributing factor is neglecting to use handrails. Because stairway incidents can cause severe injury and even death, building codes for stairs and ramps are justifiably very rigorous. Good design can substantially reduce the potential for misstepping by providing us with the means to retrieve our balance, but even the best design cannot eliminate falling hazards entirely. The need for proper design also applies to ramps. The fact is that some incidents can be caused by inattention, unsafe behaviour, and inappropriate footwear. The best approach to minimize the hazard of falling down stairs is to encourage the building of well-designed stairways, combined with training focused on raising our awareness of the potential for injury. ## What factors must we consider in designing safer stairs? ## Stair dimensions Figure 1 shows the recommended dimension ranges for all the important elements of stairways. Stairways - Fall Prevention CCOHS

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# Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls (cont.) ## Housekeeping (cont.) Changing or modifying walking surfaces is the next level of preventing slip and trips. Recoating or replacing floors, installing mats, pressure-sensitive abrasive strips or abrasive- filled paint-on coating and metal or synthetic decking can further improve safety and reduce the risk of falling. However, it is critical to remember that high-tech flooring requires good housekeeping as much as any other flooring. In addition, resilient, non-slippery flooring prevents or reduces foot fatigue and contributes to slip-prevention measures. ## Footwear In workplaces where floors may be oily or wet or where workers spend considerable time outdoors, prevention of fall incidents should focus on selecting proper footwear. Since there is no footwear with anti-slip properties for every condition, consultation with manufacturers is highly recommended. Properly fitting footwear increases comfort and prevents fatigue which, in turn, improves safety for the employee. For more information on footwear visit the OSH Answers document on Safety Footwear. ## What can you do to avoid falling at work? You can reduce the risk of slipping on wet flooring by: - taking your time and paying attention to where you are going - adjusting your stride to a pace that is suitable for the walking surface and the tasks you are doing - walking with the feet pointed slightly outward - making wide turns at corners ## You can reduce the risk of tripping by: - keeping walking areas clear from clutter or obstructions - keeping flooring in good condition - always using installed light sources that provide sufficient light for your tasks - using a flashlight if you enter a dark room where there is no light - making sure that things you are carrying or pushing do not prevent you from seeing any obstructions, spills, etc. Fact sheet last revised: 2023-03-28 Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls CCOHS