A short safety talk on slips trips and falls

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# Roadway Safety - Sprains & Strains (cont.) ## What Can You Do to Prevent Injuries? (cont.) Instruction Zone # Roadway Safety - Fall Hazards A Road Construction Industry Consortium Awareness Program 33 NOTES: # Module 9: Fall Hazards ## What Causes Falls in Road Work? Most of the work in heavy and highway construction which excludes bridges and tunnel work is done on or near the ground. This means that the most falls results from slips or trips on the same level. Falls on walking and work- ing surfaces involve: - tripping over materials or debris, . falling on hills or embankments, • stepping in holes or walking on irregular ground, • stumbling while carrying loads that block vision, and Fig. FH-1B. In road work, there are some falls from eleva- tions. Even falls from a few feet can kill. OSHA requires fall protection for work at 6 feet above any surface. Fig. FH-1A. Most falls in road con- struction result from slips or trips on the same level. • slips or trips in muddy, wet, or icy conditions. There are some falls from elevations in road work. The most common include: - falls from riding in or on moving equipment, - falls while mounting or dismounting vehicles and equipment, - falls from bridges, - falls from formwork, and - falls into excavations. Ask trainees: What percentage of injuries in highway work are due to falls? (Falls are the second leading cause of serious injuries in highway construction. Almost 17% of all lost workday injuries in highway construction are due to falls. About half of these falls were to lower levels and about half were falls on the same level.) Can you get killed from even a short fall? What are the most common tripping hazards? Missing the last step when climb- ing off a vehicle is a big problem. Many workers fall when crawl- ing onto a truck to check the water level. Note: OSHA requires fall protection above 6 feet. OSHA also requires fall protection below 6 feet if workers can fall into or onto dang…

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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 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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# 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