Walking and Working Surfaces

1. Walking and Working Surfaces

2. Related Work Activities • Working in a greenhouse • Pruning trees • Mowing lawns • Trimming • Carrying heavy loads • Painting

3. Hazardous Conditions & Unsafe Acts • Standing on a broken ladder • Using a ladder improperly • Wet concrete floors • Concrete floors covered in grass clippings • Working on slippery slopes • Working on muddy, uneven terrain • Walking around large sticks and stones

4. Potential Outcomes • Cuts and bruises • Sprains and strains • Head, neck and back injuries • Broken bones • Concussions • Paralysis • Fatal injuries

5. Unsafe Work Practices can be Deadly

6. NJ FACE Fatal Fact • The victim stood on an extended aluminum ladder which was positioned against the side of a house. • As he reached to his right, with only his left hand and left foot on the ladder. • He apparently lost his grip and fell.

7. Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls • Slips, trips, and falls make up the majority of accidental injuries. • Good housekeeping can prevent some of these injuries. • Workers should be trained in proper ladder use and safety.

8. Housekeeping • Workplaces must be kept clean, orderly, and sanitary. • Workroom floors must be maintained as clean and dry as possible. • Slippery substances such as grass clippings and algae growth should be removed from work floors inside and out.

10. Slip Prevention

11. Non-Slip Boots • Slip-resistant soled boots should be worn when working on slippery surfaces.

12. Preventing Slip and Trip Injuries • Pay close attention to conditions. Remember that wet grass can be very slick, • Slow down on muddy or uneven terrain. • Wear boots that have good traction. • Put tools, equipment and materials back where they belong. • Be especially careful if you are applying liquids. • Pay close attention if you are carrying a load that may block your view. • Practice good housekeeping. If you spill something, clean it up.

13. Ladders • Ladder use is very common around landscaping sites • To prune trees • In greenhouses • Painting • Most ladder accidents happen when someone falls from a ladder or when the ladder falls because it is being used incorrectly.

14. Ladder Inspection • Check metal ladders for: • Sharp edges, dents, bent steps or stiles, condition of no-slip rubber or plastic feet and corrosion. • Check wood ladders for: • Splits, cracks, chips, loose steps or rungs and warping • Check fiber glass ladders for: • Loose components, missing components, cracks and chips.

15. Danger: Broken Ladder

16. Step Ladders • Step ladders should be used with the two sets of legs apart and locked. • The step ladder should not be used as an extension ladder. • The top step of a step ladder should never be used to stand on.

17. Improper Use of Step Ladder

18. Danger: Do Not Stand on Top Rung

20. Extension Ladders • Make sure extension ladder locks are engaged • Never stand on the top three rungs • Don’t lean a ladder against a movable object • Ladder should extend 3 feet from its resting place

21. Ladder Angle • The ladder should be placed according to the Four-to-One Rule • For every 4 feet of rise, the base of the ladder should be 1 foot away from the object the ladder is resting against.

22. Preventing Falls from Ladders • Select the appropriate ladder for the job • Do not use a ladder in windy conditions • Place extension ladders at the proper angle • Do not stand on the top three rungs of an extension ladder • Always have a three point contact while on a ladder.

23. Preventing Falls from Ladders • Place ladders on a slip-free surface and away from things like: • Algae growth, • Oil droplets, • Potting mix, • Or wet grass clippings. • Make sure rungs of ladder are clear of these slippery substances

24. Preventing Falls from Ladders • Never extend the body outside the ladder side rails. • Don’t over-reach while on a ladder • Place the ladder on even terrain, • Do not carry heavy objects up or down a ladder. • Always face the ladder when ascending or descending.

25. Ladder Care • Ladders are to be kept free of oil, grease, wet paint, and other slipping hazards. • Keep ladders clean and free from dirt and grease, which might conceal defects. • Wood ladders should be protected with a clear sealer. • Wood ladders should not be painted because the paint could hide defects.

26. Ladders Around Power Lines • Always know the location of any nearby power lines • Observe the placement of ladders relative to nearby power lines. • Stay at least 10 feet from the power lines during all activities • More distance may be needed with higher voltage lines

27. VA Face Fatal Fact • A 21-year-old painter was electrocuted when the metal ladder he was moving contacted an overhead power line about 24 feet above ground level and directly above the victim's position.

28. Floor Openings • An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension in a floor, platform, pavement, or yard, through which persons may fall.

29. Guarding Floor Openings • Provide covers and/or guardrails to protect workers from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches.

30. Stairways • Flights of stairs with four or more risers must have standard stair railings or handrails.

31. Danger: Damaged Stairway

32. Stairways • Keep stairways well lit and free from debris or oil and grease. • Keep outside stairways clear of grass clippings, algae growth and other slippery substances • Remove any clutter from stairways • Use stairway handrails

33. Walking and Working Surfaces Summary • Keep all walking and working surfaces clear of water, clutter, and slippery debris. • Make sure walkways are clear from tripping hazards. • Use step and extension ladders properly. • Guard openings in floors which workers can fall through. • Keep stairways clear of debris and clutter.