Suggestions for the Speaker
Speaker’s Notes
•Today’s topic is slip, trip and fall prevention. This training includes OSHA’s Walking and Working Surfaces and Fall Protection standards for general industry (29 CFR 1910. 22-28).•Today, we’re going to learn the following:
–The common causes of and situations leading to slips, trips and falls.
–How you can recognize, prevent and avoid slips, trips and falls.
–Potential health effects of slip, trip and fall injuries.
–What you should do when you spot a hazard.
•But first, let’s define slips, trips and falls:
–Slips are a loss of balance caused by too little friction between your feet and the surface you’re walking or working on, causing you to fall.
–Trips are a loss of balance caused by interference from some object, causing you to fall to the surface you’re walking on.
–Falls are when you fall from an elevated level to a lower level.
Suggestions for the Speaker
Check to see if OSHA regulations require more specific slip, trip and fall training for your industry.Speaker’s Notes
- Slips-and-falls account for more workplace injuries and deaths annually than any other accident category. And it’s only getting worse. For instance, “Deaths resulting from falls” is the only category of accidental death that has continued to grow over the last 50 years. More than 20% of all emergency room visits for accidental injuries are fall-related. Most falls result in lost workdays, broken bones, bad backs, even permanent disability.
- Most of us don’t think of falls as too serious because we’ve all fallen and gotten back up. But your next fall could be the one that results in serious injury, maybe even death.
- Slips-and-falls are preventable, and it only takes a few simple steps to ensure our workplace remains safe for you and your coworkers.
Suggestions for the Speaker
•Ask workers to share a story about someone getting injured from a slip, trip or fall. Have them explain what led up to the incident and highlight the physical, emotional, and financial consequences. If they don’t have one, you can use the following story:•A 26-year-old worker fell 10 feet from a mezzanine after deciding not to put up a guardrail or wear fall protection for a task that would only take 15 minutes. He tripped over a tool handle. The fall snapped his spine, instantly severing his spinal cord and leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
Speaker’s Notes
•Wet and worn surfaces cause two out of every three serious falls. So giving some additional thought to where you’re working could prevent a lot of pain and many lost workdays.•Let’s face it, none of us spend any time thinking about the floor we’re walking or working on. But any floor can become dangerous if it’s damaged, worn or when something is spilled on it. Please inspect and mark or repair any damaged surfaces when spotted. Spills are especially dangerous because they’re often hard to see. But even in small quantities, they can create a serious slip hazard. Watch for oil, water, coffee, grease, paper and debris as well.
•Different surfaces vary in how slippery they are. For instance, carpeting is less slippery than marble, tile and concrete. Pay close attention to floor types when moving between surfaces.
Speaker’s Notes
•Keep our walkways and working areas clean and dry. Watch for and clean up small spills immediately or spread an appropriate absorbent material over the area. Alert trained responders to any chemical spill.•If you can’t avoid a slippery surface, walk slowly and deliberately, with short strides and feet pointed slightly outward. Keep your hands at your sides and don’t turn sharply.
•Mark all hazards clearly so you and others won't get hurt. Then either fix the hazards yourself or report it to your supervisor right away.
•Areas not meant to be walked on are often unstable, shaky, slippery or otherwise unsafe. Avoid taking shortcuts or straying from designated walking and working areas.
•Watch your path of travel and look for surface changes. When changing surfaces, adjust your stride accordingly before proceeding.
Suggestions for the Speaker
•This is a good time to remind workers where they can find appropriate cleaning supplies and absorbent materials and to show them how to properly mark a slip hazard.•Let the workers know who should be notified in the event of a chemical spill.
•Ask workers to name the different surfaces they work on throughout the day and emphasize how frequently they change surfaces. Discuss which surfaces are more hazardous than others.
Speaker’s Notes
•We’ve all tripped over something that wasn’t where it should be. Tripping hazards are everywhere. Examples include extension cords, furniture, planters, displays, parking blocks, pipes, open drawers, tools, trash and boxes. It’s the everyday hazards that people walk-around, accept, even ignore that are often responsible for serious injury.•Again, please stay on designated pathways; don’t take shortcuts. Permanent obstacles are often located in areas not meant to be walked on, so you can minimize your chances of tripping by not putting yourself in danger.
•Housekeeping goes hand-in-hand with safety, and it must be a priority. Keeping our workspaces, aisles and walkways free of obstructions will help keep everyone safe. You may know the obstruction exists, but others might not. You don’t want to be responsible for another person getting seriously hurt. When equipment or supplies are left in walkways, report it to your supervisor. Remember to remove usable and waste material, tools, paper, and boxes on a regular basis. And never leave obstructions on stairs or landings.
Suggestions for the Speaker
Ask workers to name the temporary and permanent obstacles in and around your building. This will spotlight that even the seemingly hidden, permanent hazards can be just as deadly as the obvious, temporary ones.Speaker’s Notes
•Any slope, raised area or ledge can cause you to lose your footing or twist your ankle, knee or back, as your body is “taken by surprise” by the higher or lower surface.•When approaching a change in floor level, slow down and inspect the surface for damage, moisture and other surface hazards before proceeding. Remember, sloping areas change your center of gravity, making it easier for you to slip. So be sure to always use railings when you can.
•Look for color contrast flagging that highlights transitions in floor height.
Suggestions for the Speaker
•Ask workers to name slopes, ramps and ledges in your facility. This will give everyone a clear mental picture that a slip-and-fall hazard exists at that location.•Share a story about someone getting hurt because of a change in surface elevation. If you don’t have one, you can use the following story:
•A fall from a single step injured a maintenance worker who was walking backwards while mopping and fell from the step. He badly injured his tailbone, and spent the next 18 months in serious pain, unable to sit down comfortably.
Speaker’s Notes
•Common injuries resulting from improper footwear include torn ligaments, broken bones and wrenched backs.•One of the best ways to help prevent slip injuries is to increase the friction between you and the floor. Good slip-resistant footwear is designed to do just that. If you’re unsure whether your shoes have the proper soles or whether they are too worn, check with your supervisor.
•As your shoes age they become more comfortable. Unfortunately, as they age, they also give you decreasing support and stability. Your most comfortable shoes could be the ones that sweep you off your feet and put you on the ground.
•Always keep your footwear free from grease and oils, and periodically check your treads for wear and clogs of dirt and debris.
Suggestions for the Speaker
•Conduct a surprise shoe inspection. Have everyone show the soles of their shoes to the group and offer feedback on the condition of the tread. Discuss the ages of the shoes. Bring an example of a worn-out shoe and a new shoe for comparison.•Show workers how to best remove oil and grease from their shoes.
Speaker’s Notes
Lighting:•It’s almost impossible to see a hazard in a poorly lit area. Be sure all areas are adequately lit and free from glare before proceeding. When entering an area, always turn the light on first. If lighting isn’t provided, find additional lighting before proceeding. If you can’t see, don’t enter.
•Please notify your supervisor when bulbs, fixtures or switches need to be replaced.
Behavior-Based:
•Always look where you are walking. Inattentiveness and carelessness are, by far, the cause of most slips, trips and falls.
•Don’t carry loads that impair your ability to see where you’re going. If the load obstructs your view of your path, get help.
•Running and horseplay can lead to injury for your coworkers and should be avoided. Don’t jump over obstacles. Slow down and walk sure-footedly.
Suggestions for the Speaker
•Remind everyone who they should tell about lighting problems.•Share a story about someone getting hurt because of horseplay. If you don’t have one, use the following story:Two warehouse workers were racing through their building when one’s foot caught the edge of a pallet and sent him tumbling. He needed more than a month of rehab before his injured hip was healed.
Speaker’s Notes
•Falls from elevation are the #1 cause of on-site occupational fatalities. But despite this, personal fall protection is still the most under-utilized safety resource. Common trouble zones include ladders, stairways, scaffolds, docks, vehicles, and floor and wall openings.•Ladders pose one of the most common falling hazards. Every year, 300 people die in falls from ladders, and 175,000 more are injured. 75% of these require emergency medical attention.
•33,000 people are disabled each year from falls on stairs. Many stairway falls result in paralysis.
•Falls from scaffolds kill 50 people and injure 4,500 more each year. Because we assemble scaffolds ourselves, we have the power to prevent a scaffold fall here.
Suggestions for the Speaker
Bring a sample of a step ladder and an extension ladder to the training session. As you present the training, demonstrate your points on the ladders.Speaker’s Notes
•Most ladder accidents are easily prevented with proper inspection, safe use and maintenance.•Closely inspect every part of your ladder before you use it. Check for broken, worn, loose, decayed, dirty, cracked, split, or missing rungs, side rails, spreaders, ropes, and safety feet. Tag bad ladders “Dangerous, Do Not Use.”
•Place the feet of the ladder on a stable, level surface. Use a ladder with slip-resistant feet or secure blocking. Set the head of extension ladders on surfaces that support both side rails. Never set it on one if its rungs. Never place any ladder on boxes, tables, machinery or other unstable bases to obtain additional height.
•When setting a ladder at a doorway, block the door open or lock it closed. When using one in an open area, set up perimeter guarding and warning signs to protect it from cars and people.
•Place your tools in a tool belt to keep your hands free for climbing.
•Keep your body centered between both side rails. Never lean past your belt buckle, and always maintain at least three points of contact with your ladder at all times.
•Always face the ladder when climbing up or down, grasping the rungs hand over hand, with both hands and placing feet well forward on each rung.
Suggestions for the Speaker
•Show samples of slip resistant feet, unstable footings, proper climbing position, overextending and facing the wrong way.•Ask someone to climb the ladder as you demonstrate your points.
Speaker’s Notes
When using a step ladder:•When its spreaders are left unlocked, a stepladder is very likely to collapse. It may appear safe, but as you climb, your weight actually increases the likelihood that the ladder will collapse. The higher you go, the more you increase your chances of falling.
•Do not stand above the second-to-top step. The top cap is not a step.
When using an extension ladder:
•Use the one-to-four rule: Set the feet of the ladder one foot away from its support for every four feet of working ladder height. “Working height" is measured from the ground to where the ladder hits its support. This reduces the chances your ladder will tip backwards or slide sideways.
•Any ladder used to get onto a roof or elevated surface should extend at least three feet above the roof line or surface.
•Be sure to tie off your ladder at both the top and bottom. If they aren’t secured, the ladder can shift or worse, tip over. Even a slight shift from the ladder can send you hurling to the ground.
Suggestions for the Speaker
Ask workers: “If the working height is 24 feet, how far from the support should you place the ladder? (answer: 6 feet)Speaker’s Notes
Stairways:•Stairs are particularly dangerous because a fall on steps involves hitting the ground multiple times and sometimes picking up speed before landing. Falls on stairs often inflict multiple serious injuries.
•Before using stairs, look for torn carpeting, or worn, loose, wet, dirty or oily steps.
•Always keep a hand on the handrail and avoid running on or skipping steps.
•When carrying a load on a stairway, be sure it doesn’t block your vision. If you can’t see over the load, don’t proceed. Try to keep one hand free for the railing.
Scaffolds:
•Always assemble guardrails with toeboards when scaffolds are 10 feet or higher, according to manufacturer’s specifications. Inspect them for defects prior to climbing. Look for bent or loose framing and cracked, wet or decaying planks. Scaffolds are less secure than permanent structures, so it’s important that we take the time to make sure they’re properly assembled and secured.
•Working and standing planks need to be level, clean and dry. Each plank becomes a new walking/working surface, so keep each one free from slip-and-trip hazards.
•Always use guardrails or fall protection when operating on a scaffold 10 feet or more above the ground and move your platforms instead of overreaching.
•Keep your hands free by placing tools in a tool belt before climbing. You can use lifting devices to bring up your tools and supplies.
Speaker’s Notes
Loading Docks:•Always exercise extreme caution when approaching a dock, because they pose a serious threat to your safety. Docks often contain oil drips from motors. When the oil is absorbed by porous concrete, it makes the dock very slippery. Rain, snow and ice are also commonly found on docks. Remember, even though a dock isn’t that high up, a simple slip on one can hurt you badly.
•Docks aren’t meant to be climbed nor jumped from. You may slip when you land, causing you serious injury.
•Dock doors should be kept closed when loading or unloading isn’t in progress. This prevents accidental falls over the side.
Vehicles:
•Most non-driving truck-related injuries result from getting into or out of trucks.
•Don’t jump from truck beds and truck gates. Climb down slowly and properly. Never use a piece of equipment, like a forklift or truck cab, to gain elevation.
Suggestions for the Speaker
Share this story: Recently, a sanitation worker fell from the back of the truck he was riding after losing his footing. His head struck the pavement – killing him. This shows that even falls from short distances can be fatalSpeaker’s Notes
•Fall prevention is just that: taking steps to prevent you and your coworkers from falling through holes or over ledges.•Floors and platforms with open-sides that are four feet or more above adjacent surfaces must be appropriately guarded. Ask your supervisor for direction on the appropriate guard to use.
•Always take the time to assemble guardrails with toe boards at floor openings, wall openings, open pits, balconies, and overhead areas.
•Be sure to cover or guard floor holes as soon as they’re created. Take care to install covers in a way that prevents them from being accidentally removed. Mark hole covers clearly: "Danger -- Hole Cover. Do Not Remove.".
Suggestions for the Speaker
•Demonstrate how to properly assemble a guardrail. Bring a sample hole cover and show how to properly mark it.•Share this story: A worker on a high-rise construction site left a large opening in the floor unguarded, while he looked for some material. He thought he was the only person around. He was wrong. A coworker fell through the opening, 35 feet to the steel deck below and was killed on impact.
Speaker’s Notes