Write a toolbox talk on Slips, trips, and falls

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# FALL PROTECTION Date Posted: 09/15/2016 ## FALL PROTECTION Falls are the most frequent cause of fatalities in construction and annually account for one of every three construction-related deaths. Fall protection trigger heights will vary depending on the task being performed. The "trigger height" is the minimum height at which fall protection is required. Know the trigger heights for your work and use fall protection as required. ## FALL PROTECTION REQUIRED REGARDLESS OF HEIGHT WAC 296-155-[redacted postal code] - Open sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment. • Floor holes or floor openings into which persons can accidentally walk. • Falls into or onto impalement hazards, such as reinforcing steel (rebar), or exposed steel or wood stakes used to set forms. • Working from boom supported elevated work platforms. WAC 296-869-[redacted postal code] • Working in confined spaces. WAC 296-809-[redacted postal code] ## FALL PROTECTION AT FOUR FEET OR MORE WAC 296-155-[redacted postal code] • When employees are exposed to fall hazards of four feet or more to the ground or lower level when on a walking/working surface. • Walking/working surface is any area whose dimensions are 45 inches or greater in all directions, through which workers pass or conduct work. • When employees are using stilts • Where employees are working on platforms above the protection of a guardrail system, • While placing or tying reinforcing steel on a vertical face. • While working on a roof with a pitch greater than four in twelve (4:12) • While engaged in work, other than roofing work or leading edge work, on low pitched roofs • While working on a hazardous slope ## FALL PROTECTION AT TEN FEET OR MORE WAC 296-155-[redacted postal code] • Engaged in roofing work on a low pitched roof (4:12 or less) • Constructing a leading edge. • Working on any surface that does not meet the definition of a walking/working surface • Engaged …

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B. Applicability - This revised final rule does not change construction or agricultural standards. Also, excluded from coverage by the revised standard are employee tasks on surfaces that fall outside of OSHA's jurisdiction due to location or operational status, or those tasks that are subject to unique industry-specific fall protection requirements addressed elsewhere in Part 1910, including §1910.268, Telecommunications, and §1910.269, Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution. C. Nature of the Risk - Workers in many diverse general industry workplaces are exposed to walking-working surface hazards that can result in slips, trips, or falls that may cause injuries or fatalities. These walking-working surface hazards result in worker fatalities and serious injuries, including lost-workday injuries. Slips, trips, and falls, including falls on the same level, can result in injuries such as fractures, contusions, lacerations, and sprains, and may even be fatal. Falls to lower levels can increase the severity of injuries as well as the likelihood of death. Falls on the same level can also result in strains and sprains when employees try to "catch" themselves to prevent falling. - According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, slips, trips, and falls are a leading cause of workplace fatalities and injuries in general industry, which indicates that workers regularly encounter these hazards. Nationally, from 1999 to 2010, falls were second only to highway incidents in terms of fatal injuries. In 2011, slips, trips, and falls were the third leading cause of fatal occupational injuries and in 2012, approximately one-third of all fatal falls in private industry were falls to a lower level in general industry. - There are many walking-working surface hazards that can cause a fatality or serious injury, including: • damaged or worn components on personal fall protection systems and rope descent systems; • portable ladders used for purposes …

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# SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS (cont.) ## CONSTRUCTION AREAS AT HIGH RISK FOR SLIP, TRIP, AND FALL ACCIDENTS (cont.) • Material storage: All materials should be stored away from walkways, not block doors or exits. Be sure that items are not impeding the flow of people. Ensure that things are not stacked so high that they become hazardous. OSHA has requirements for particular types of materials and how they will be stored. ## HOW CAN SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS BE PREVENTED? • Maintain Good Housekeeping - Keep Walking and Working Areas Clear of Debris: Don't leave trip hazards in the work area. Keep your work area clear of debris on the ground, gravel, loose materials, and anything else that could cause someone to step wrong. Debris can be hazardous if it includes nails or other sharp objects. You may need to allocate time for cleaning up messy walking areas throughout the day. Outdoor surfaces should be kept clean and dry. They may be treated with sand, salt, and anti-skid adhesive when necessary. Indoor surfaces should be secured with non-slip floor mats that allow people to clean their shoes. Heavily treaded construction work boots and shoes can track in nails and other potential hazards. • Identify and Take Precautions for Wet and Slippery Conditions: During certain seasons, construction sites can be especially hazardous due to ice, snow, and other wet weather conditions. Clear walkways regularly-at least once every 12 hours during snowfall or icy conditions and periodically in dryer months if water is allowed to collect. Keep walkways and other surfaces as free of slippery materials like mud and precipitation as possible, and implement a "wet floor" signage policy where wet areas are restricted from access until made non-hazardous. • Use the Right Footwear: Using proper footwear is one of the most effective ways of preventing slips, trips, and falls onsite. Regarding work boots, stick to ones with slip-resistant soles, as these offer the best traction on smooth or…

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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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# SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS Date Posted: 01/30/2024 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nearly one-third of reportable injuries and 40% of fatalities in construction result from slips, trips, and falls nationally. These injuries result in 50% more days away from work than other injuries. Slips, trips, and falls are among the top three causes of work-related injury. A worker doesn't have to fall from a high level to suffer fatal injuries; 136 workers were killed in falls on the same level in 2020. However, each of these describes a slightly different kind of incident: • Slips happen when traction's lost between the bottom of your shoe and whatever you're stepping on. This can be caused by uneven terrains like wet ground, ice, or mud; wet or greasy surfaces; poor footwear; and other issues. In addition, slips are more likely to occur when a worker hurries or runs, wears the wrong footwear or ignores where they're walking. • A trip is when someone catches their foot against an object or uneven terrain, causing them to trip and fall. Poor lighting misplaced tools, debris like gravel or nails, and improper safety gear also cause tripping hazards. A fall is a much more severe injury where someone lands too hard on their feet, torso, or head and is knocked over. NOTE: CARRYING, PUSHING, OR PULLING ITEMS THAT ARE HEAVY OR AWKWARD CAN ALSO MAKE SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS MORE LIKELY. THESE ACTIONS CAN AFFECT THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN BALANCE AND THE AMOUNT OF TRACTION NEEDED WHERE THE FEET MEET THE GROUND. ## COMMON CAUSES OF SLIP, TRIP, AND FALL ACCIDENTS - Slick spots or oily spots on walking surfaces • Clutter - Debris • Unsafe stairs or ladders • Improperly secured ladders or scaffolding parts • Improperly sloped walking surfaces • Loose or unsecured flooring • Ramps without skid or slip-resistant surfaces - Accessing/Egressing vehicles and equipment - Loose surfaces such as gravel or crushed rock • Weather-related hazards • Uncovered or unse…

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Construction Prevent Falls: Guardrails Toolbox Talk NIOSH CPWR [● Falls are a leading cause of construction injuries and fatalities. Workers can fall from ladders, scaffolds, vehicles, heavy equipment, aerial lifts, platforms, and roofs, and through holes or openings in floors or roofs. Guardrails can prevent a fall. ## Bill's Story Bill was repairing an air conditioning unit on the roof of a three-story building. He was about a foot from an unguarded edge. When he stood up, he lost his balance. Bill fell 23 feet to the cement floor below and died. *What caused this incident? - How could this have been prevented? * Have you ever fallen because of a missing guardrail, or do you know someone who has? If so, what happened? ## How can we stay safe today? What will we do at the worksite to prevent fall injuries? ## Remember This • Your employer must provide every employee with training on how to recognize a fall hazard and on fall protection. • Guardrails, safety nets, and/or personal fall-arrest systems must be in place if there is a risk for falls. • Guardrails are required on work surfaces where workers are at risk of falls greater than 6 feet. - Guardrails must be 42 inches high (+/- 3") and have a mid-rail. • Body harnesses with lanyards and secure attachment points provided by employers must be used if guardrails cannot be provided. OSHA Standards: 1926.501 and 1926.503 CD C National and Health NIOSH® CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION CPWR 【O THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING

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# Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems), Final Rule; and Other Related Provisions (cont.) ## Subpart R-Special Industries (cont.) Federal Register/Vol. 81, No. 223/Friday, November 18, 2016/Rules and Regulations [redacted postal code] 1910.25 Stairways. 1910.26 Dockboards. - 1910.27 Scaffolds and rope descent systems. - 1910.28 Duty to have fall protection and falling object protection. - 1910.29 Fall protection systems and falling object protection-criteria and practices. 1910.30 Training requirements. Authority: 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, and 657; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR [redacted postal code]), 9-83 (48 FR [redacted postal code]), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), and 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911. ## §1910.21 Scope and definitions. (a) Scope. This subpart applies to all general industry workplaces. It covers all walking-working surfaces unless specifically excluded by an individual section of this subpart. (b) Definitions. The following definitions apply in this subpart: Alternating tread-type stair means a type of stairway consisting of a series of treads that usually are attached to a center support in an alternating manner such that an employee typically does not have both feet on the same level while using the stairway. Anchorage means a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, decent such as deceleration devices, and rope descent systems. Authorized means an employee who specific type of duty, or or allows in a specific location or area. Cage means an enclosure mounted on the side rails of a fixed ladder or fastened to a structure behind the fixed ladder that is designed to surround the climbing space of the ladder. A cage also is called a "cage guard" or "basket guard." Carrier means the track of a ladder safety fety system that consists of a flexible cable or rigid rail attached to the fixed ladder or immediately adjacent to it. Combination ladd…

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# Table of Contents (cont.) ## Introduction Falls cause more deaths in construction than any other hazard. In 2011, falls accounted for over a third of the 721 total construction deaths. Workers performing tasks 6 feet or more above lower levels are at risk of fatal falls or serious injuries. This training guide will help you plan how to prevent injuries and fatalities from falls among your crew, and provide training to your workers. It includes the following tools: • Instructions for using the Toolbox Talks to train workers in fall prevention (pages 2-3). • A series of Toolbox Talks about various fall prevention topics (pages 5-12). ## Additional resources: • A Fact Sheet, in English and Spanish, with some key information about preventing falls (page 15). • A Wallet Card, in English and Spanish, which provides the web address for OSHA'S Fall Prevention Campaign website and OSHA's contact information (page 16). • Easy-to-read OSHA posters, in English and Spanish, for the worksite and the community that you can copy and distribute to workers (page 17). - A bilingual booklet on ladder safety, Falling Off Ladders Can Kill: Use Them Safely, which can be read on any mobile device (page 18). The training is designed to be: • Short ― Each Toolbox Talk should last approximately 5-10 minutes. Although some talks contain more material than others, Toolbox Talks can be given at meetings before the work shift or during breaks. - Participatory Workers attending the talk should be able to ask questions and discuss the topic. This increases the likelihood they will remember the information. - Easy to follow. Fall Prevention Training Guide: A Lesson Plan for Employers 1

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WORK SAFE KENTUCKY Free safety resources provided by KEMI HOME SAFETY RESOURCES SAFETY TRAINING SAFETY BLOG ABOUT KEMI CONTACT US O # Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls ## Print a Sign-In Sheet | Spanish Version • According to the U.S. Department of Labor, slips, trips, and falls are the most common occupational accidents. • Many falls can be prevented with general safety precautions. • The two main causes of slips, trips, and falls are environmental conditions and human factors. CAUTION A FLOOR - • A slip occurs when there is too little traction, or friction, between the shoe and walking surface. • A trip occurs when a person's foot contacts an object in the way or drops to a lower level unexpectedly, causing the person to be thrown off-balance. • A fall occurs when a person is too far off-balance. ## The main causes of slips include: • Spills of liquids and other debris, such as mud, water, grease, oil, sawdust, powders, etc. • Highly-polished or freshly-waxed floors. • Transitioning from one surface another, such as walking from a carpeted surface to a smooth surface like tile. • Sloped walking surfaces. • Loose floor tiles, loose or unanchored floor mats, and loose floor covers. • Wet, muddy, or inappropriate footwear. • Environmental factors, such as rain, snow, and frost. • Mounting and dismounting equipment improperly. • Climbing ladders with wet, muddy, or greasy shoes. • Mark swinging doors with "in" and "out" signage. ## The main causes of trips include: • Uncovered cables, wires, or extension cords. • Cluttered walkways. - Open cabinets and desk drawers. • Changes in elevation, such as unmarked steps. • Damaged or nonuniform steps and ladders. Other conditions and factors that may contribute to slips, trips, and falls include: • Poor lighting. • Use of bulky equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE). • Improper material handling techniques. • Loud noise or distractions. • Medication or drug and alcohol effects. …

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# PLANNING AHEAD FOR FALL PROTECTION Date Posted: 02/17/2024 According to the Labor and Industries Department of Safety and Health (DOSH), Falls are the number one serious hazard for workers in most industries that can result in injuries or even death and accounted for 17 fatalities from 2017-2022 in Washington State. From a national perspective and according to statistics published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 351 workplace fatalities in construction nationally due to falls to a lower level in 2020. ## HOW AND WHERE FALLS ARE OCCURRING According to a recent national survey conducted by the BLS: - 17% of the workers who fell were loading and unloading material when the fall occurred. • 13% of the workers who fell were involved in operating, repairing, cleaning, or installing equipment. • 10% of the workers were performing carpentry tasks. • The remaining activities that resulted in falls included painting, welding, roof work, sheet metal work, and bricklaying. The BLS study also asked participants to describe their specific movements during the fall. - 28% percent of the workers who fell said they were climbing up or down from an elevated position or location. • 13% of the workers were walking at the time they fell. • 11% of the workers were stepping from one surface to another. - 10% of the workers were moving backward. Adequate fall protection and equipment use could have prevented most of the fatalities and injuries reported in the BLS study. ## UNSAFE ACTS AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS The risk of falls is virtually present in every single workplace. However, the factors that can lead to a fall vary greatly. Many unsafe acts by employees as well as unsafe conditions, lead to fall incidents. Falls often result from series of contributing factors. They are often the result of multiple dangerous conditions and hazardous actions combined. Because of this, it is essential to look at unsafe conditions and unsafe acts to recognize dange…

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# Part three - Identifying and evaluating ## What is a fall hazard? A fall hazard is any condition in the workplace that could cause an unintended loss of balance or bodily support and results in a fall. Fall hazards cause accidents such as the following: • A worker walking near the edge of an unprotected and elevated floor trips over a protruding board. • A worker slips while climbing an icy stairway with no handrail. • A makeshift scaffold collapses under the weight of four workers and their equipment. • A worker carrying a sheet of plywood on a flat roof steps into a skylight opening. ## How to evaluate fall hazards Involve others. You may need others to help you evaluate fall hazards. Ask workers who may be exposed to fall hazards and their supervisors. Involving others also strengthens your safety program. Your workers' compensation insurance carrier can help you evaluate fall hazards. Contact your insurance carrier to request a consultation. Determine how workers will access elevated surfaces to do their jobs. Will workers be using portable ladders, supported scaffolds, aerial lifts, or suspension platforms to reach work areas? Which ones will they use? How and where will they use the equipment? Identify jobs that could expose workers to falls. Using a set of worksite plans, review the entire construction project. Evaluate each phase of the project from the ground up. Ensure that all walking/working surfaces have the strength to support workers and their equipment. Then identify tasks that could expose workers to falls. A walking/working surface is any surface - horizontal or vertical - on which a person walks or works. Identify hazardous work conditions. Determine if workers' jobs could expose them to the following hazards: • Holes in walking/working surfaces that they could step into or fall through • Elevated walking/working surfaces 6 feet or more above a lower level • Skylights and smoke domes that workers could step into or fall through …

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# Table of Contents (cont.) ## How to use Toolbox Talks (cont.) To provide this training, you will be leading a discussion in which you give an example of a fatality related to the topic, discuss how it could have been prevented, ask questions, and encourage participation. ## How Toolbox Talks are formatted • Each Toolbox Talk begins with an example of the types of incidents that are possible if workers do not follow the fall prevention guidelines outlined in the training. • Following the job site example, the Toolbox Talk lists guidelines for preventing falls related to the topic (e.g., ladders). • Finally, each training sheet includes blank lines for workers to include ways that the topic is applicable to their job site. ## Preparing to teach the training sessions 1. Spend about 15 minutes to become familiar with the Toolbox Talk. 2. Print a copy of a relevant Toolbox Talk and think about how the topic relates to your specific worksite. 3. Look through the educational materials and resources listed at the end of the training guide, along with other materials on OSHA's web site, to find materials to supplement the Toolbox Talk. ## Advice for trainers Safety meetings work best if the whole crew actively participates. This makes it more interesting and more likely that people will remember the information you've given them. Here are some ways to encourage everyone to get involved: • Ask questions instead of simply giving them the information. After you ask a question, wait a short time to let people think. Then, call on volunteers to answer. • Ask about personal experience. This can help the group see how the topic is relevant to them. You could ask: Has anyone here fallen off a ladder? What happened? • Make sure everyone has a chance to talk. If a crew member is talking too much, invite someone else to speak. • Never make fun of anyone or put anyone down, especially for asking questions. Fall Prevention Training Guide: A Lesson Plan for Employers 3

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# Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems), Final Rule; and Other Related Provisions (cont.) ## $1910.26 Dockboards. (cont.) [redacted postal code] Federal Register/Vol. 81, No. 223/Friday, November 18, 2016/Rules and Regulations (iv) Each employee is protected from falling into a ladderway floor hole or ladderway platform hole by a guardrail system and toeboards erected on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the hole, where a self-closing gate or an offset must be used. (v) Each employee is protected from falling through a hatchway and chute- floor hole by: (A) A hinged floor-hole cover that meets the criteria in § 1910.29 and a fixed guardrail system that leaves only one exposed side. When the hole is not in use, the employer must ensure the cover is closed or a removable guardrail system is provided on the exposed sides; (B) A removable guardrail system and toeboards on not more than two sides of the hole and a fixed guardrail system on all other exposed sides. The employer must ensure the removable guardrail system is kept in place when the hole is not in use; or (C) A guardrail system or a travel restraint system when a work operation necessitates passing material through a hatchway or chute floor hole. (4) Dockboards. (i) The employer must ensure that each employee on a dockboard is protected from falling 4 feet (1.2 m) or more to a lower level by a guardrail system or handrails. (ii) A guardrail system or handrails are not required when: (A) Dockboards are being used solely for materials-handling operations using motorized equipment; (B) Employees engaged in these operations are not exposed to fall hazards greater than 10 feet (3 m); and (C) Those employees have been trained in accordance with § 1910.30. (5) Runways and similar walkways. (i) The employer must ensure each employee on a runway or similar walkway is protected from falling 4 feet (1.2 m) or more to a lower level by a guardrail sys…

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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