FP : Slips, Trips and Falls hazards

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Chapter : Fall Protection.

Slips, Trips and Falls

In the workplace, slips, trips, and fall hazards put workers safety at risk and cost employers, (compensation claims, regulatory fines, lost productivity, and other administrative expenses). Organizations that take proper safety precautions can keep workers safe and facilities in compliance with Illegal regulation and standards. 

Slips, trips and falls (STF) are the most common causes of injuries in workplaces. STF injuries contributed to more than 20% of all workplace injuries and hurt more than 1,000 employees every year. Besides sprains and strains, STF can also cause more serious injuries like fractures and head injuries.

Many work fatalities involving slips, trips, and falls. Many employees in private industry, state, and local government missed one or more days of work due to injuries from falls. Employees risk fatal or debilitating injuries when they slip, trip, or take a fall at work.
 
Good housekeeping can keep work areas and walkways free from spills, obstructions, and other risks. Combining housekeeping with organization systems such as 5S will keep work areas safe and productivity high for workers and employers.

What are Slips, Trips and Falls?

Slips, trips and falls are defined as falling on the same level due to these situations:

• Slip - stepping on a slippery surface or an object and losing balance;
• Trip - foot striking against an object and losing balance; and
• Fall - stepping on an uneven surface and losing balance.

STF should not be taken lightly as they can also lead to other types of accidents, such as falls from heights if a person slipped and fell near an open side.

 

Slip Hazard

A slip happens when there is insecure footing resulting in a loss of balance. For example, ice forms on the ground in the winter creating a walkway surface with reduced traction and friction. This can create a slip risk for a pedestrian. In the workplace, oil spilled on a smooth surface reduces traction and friction, which can cause a slip hazard.

The main cause of slips is (no surprise) a slippery surface, compounded by improper footwear.

 

Common causes of slips:

• Wet products or spills on smooth walking surfaces (water, mud, grease, oil, food, etc.)
• Dry products or spills on walking surfaces (dusts, powders, granules, wood, etc.)
• Highly-polished floors (concrete, marble, ceramic tile)
• Sloped walking surfaces and ramps without slip resistant surfaces
• Loose floorboards, tiles, or irregular surfaces
• Wet, muddy or greasy shoes
• Transitioning from one surface to another (e.g. grid to smooth concrete) 
• Freshly-waxed surfaces
• Weather hazards

Examples of slips:

1. The heel of the forward foot contacts the walking surface, then slips forward, and the person falls backward.
2. The rear foot slips backward and the walker falls forward.

Trip Hazard

A trip occurs when there is a loss of balance resulting from contact with an object. This causes the person to lose balance and fall, which can result in injury. For example, a distracted employee could trip and fall over debris, an electrical cord, boxes, or an uneven rug in a walkway causing injury.
 
Common causes of trips:

• Uncovered hoses, cables, wires or extension cords across aisles or walkways
• Clutter and obstacles in aisles, walkways, and work areas
• Unanchored or curled rugs or mats
• Changes in elevation or levels (e.g. unmarked steps or ramps)
• Uneven, irregular walking surfaces (e.g. gaps in floor, missing tiles)
• Damaged, non-uniform steps
• Debris, accumulated waste materials
• Trailing cables, pallets, tools in gangways
• Objects protruding from walking surface

The best hedges against slips and resulting falls and injuries are dry walking and working surfaces and slip-resistant footwear. On slippery surfaces, nonskid strips or floor coatings should be used.

Trips occur when the front foot strikes an object and is suddenly stopped. The upper body is thrown forward and a fall is the result. A relatively slight rise in a walkway can cause someone to stub a toe, also potentially resulting in a trip and fall.

Fall Hazard
Each year too many construction workers are injured by slips and falls.Slipping on the floor is bad enough, but falling from a height can be disastrous.
A fall happens when there is a failed or missing support. Falls, which can happen on the same level, or from one level to another. Non-slip or trip-related falls stem from breaking through a damaged or non-weight-bearing surface or stepping toward a platform that isn’t there. For example, a worker could fall off a ladder from stepping on a broken rung causing injury.
 
Leading factors that cause fall hazards are:

• Floor mats and runners
•  Objects obstructing walkways
• Floor irregularities and damage
• Lighting inadequacies
• Stairs and railings
• Steps tools and ladders
• Scaffolding
• Unprotected edges and openings

How can falls be prevented? 

• Keep your eyes open!
• When working at heights, proper guard rails must be used and, where necessary, safety belts that are properly tied-off.
• Scaffolding must rest on firm footing and should have all the bracing installed.
• When using multi-level staging, the scaffolding must also be anchored to the structure. First quality cleated planks, completely covering the working level, are a necessity.
• Orderliness plays a big part in preventing slips and falls.
• Debris lying around on floors and working areas is an open invitation to accident. Weather increases hazards, particularly in winter when debris becomes snow covered and cannot be seen.
• Wet weather causes muddy feet which contribute in turn to slips and falls. Wipe your feet before climbing steps or entering a work area.
• When climbing a ladder, hold on with both hands. 
• When walking down stairs use the guardrail.

Hazards and Prevention

Many workplace injuries result from workers slipping on slippery floors, tripping over physical obstructions or falling from height. Your Risk Assessment team should be aware of all factors that may increase STF risks and implement effective STF prevention measures to mitigate the risks.

Examples of factors that may increase Slip,Trip and Fall Hazards (STF) risks include:

• Unsafe ladders, steps and scaffolds.
• Unsafe use of ladders;
• Wet & Slippery surfaces.
• Improper footwear for the working environment.
• Obstructions in and on floors and walkways.
• Uneven walking surfaces
• Poor / Insufficientlighting.
• Access to / from vehicles.
• Poor housekeepingInadequate personal protection equipment
• Lack of handrails on platforms or staircases

Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

Examples of simple, straightforward things you can do to prevent STF include:

• Encourage workers to report poor lighting;
• Keep floors and stairs dry and clean;
• Ensure carpets and rugs are free of holes and loose edges;
• Hang power cords over aisles or work areas to prevent tripping accidents;
• Use anti-slip flooring or non-slip working shoes;
• Place signs to warn of slippery surfaces;
• Hold onto handrails when climbing stairs or slopes; and
• Keep work area neat - do not leave materials and boxes lying haphazardly around.

Reducing the Risk

One of the biggest contributing factors to slips, trips, and resulting falls is improper housekeeping. One technique used by many organization is painting yellow lines to indicate walking and working surfaces that should never be cluttered, slippery, or obstructed.

Lighting can also be a factor, especially when employees move from light to dark, or dark to light areas of the workplace. Trips and falls can also result when workers are carrying large objects that obscure their vision.

Rubber mats that are skid-resistant on the top and bottom can also help. Safety signs, such as those announcing wet floors, are a good choice when hazards cannot be eliminated.

Supervisors and safety personnel should also regularly inspect walking and working areas to identify hazards, and take immediate corrective action whenever possible.

Also require all personnel at risk of slips and trips to:

• Wear proper footwear with nonslip soles.
• Report and clean up spills immediately.
• Report slips, trips, and falls so that they can be investigated and future incidents prevented.