Slips, Trips, and Falls

1. Slips, Trips, and Falls Healthcare Workers

2. Session Objectives • You will be able to: • Recognize slips, trips, and falls as a serious safety problem • Identify slip, trip, and fall hazards on the job • Avoid and eliminate trip and slip hazards • Use stairs and ladders safely to avoid falls • Minimize injuries if you do fall

3. What You Need to Know • Frequency and types of slip, trip, and fall injuries • Common causes of slips, trips, and falls • How to prevent trips and slips • How to prevent falls from stairs and on ladders • What to do if you fall

4. Injury Statistics • There are over 265,000 nonfatal injuries from slips, trips, and falls • Slips, trips, and falls result in 17% of all nonfatal workplace injuries per year • More than 750 workers die each year in workplace falls • Patients and visitors can also become statistics

5. Types of Injuries • Back or spine injuries • Head injuries • Muscle strains • Sprains and torn ligaments • Broken bones • Even death

6. Common Causes of Slips, Trips, and Falls • Messy work areas • Inadequate lighting • Not watching where you’re going • Running or walking too fast • Spills and wet floors

7. Common Causes of Slips, Trips, and Falls (cont.) • Clutter • Open drawers • Flooring problems • Failure to use handrails going up or down stairs • Lack of caution on ladders • Wearing inappropriate shoes

8. Eliminate Trip Hazards • Put things away after use • Pick up items you see on the floor • Step over or around obstructions • Walk slowly and change directions slowly, especially when carrying a load • Watch for changes in floor levels • Report lighting problems

9. Eliminate Trip Hazards (cont.) • Don’t leave boxes, bags, tools, or other materials on the floor • Don’t block walkways with carts, wheelchairs, or other equipment • Don’t leave cords or power cables in walkways • Don’t place anything on stairs • Don’t leave drawers open

10. Watch Out for Slip Hazards • Clean up spills, drips, and leaks immediately • Put up signs or barriers to warn about wet floors • Put down mats on wet days • Wear shoes with nonskid soles • Walk slowly and slide your feet on wet, slippery surfaces • Report icy spots outside

11. Keep Alert and Use Common Sense • Be aware of the hazards • Pay attention to where you are going • Adjust your stride according to the walking surface • Make wide turns at corners • Don’t block your vision when carrying items

12. Slip and Trip Hazards • Do you understand the information presented so far?

13. Be Careful on Stairs • Use handrails • Walk—don’t run • Inspect for slippery surfaces or damaged steps • Do not put objects on steps • Be especially careful when carrying a load

14. Choose the Right Ladder for the Job • Step stool • Stepladder • Straight ladder • Extension ladder

15. Ladder ‘Don’ts’ • Don’t stand on the top two steps of a stepladder or the top three rungs of a straight or extension ladder • Don’t place a ladder on boxes or barrels to gain height • Don’t join two short ladders together to form a longer ladder • Don’t use a box or chair in place of a ladder

16. Set Up Ladders Correctly • Place ladders on a firm, level surface • Take precautions when setting up in front of a door • Make sure stepladder braces are fully extended • Position straight and extension ladders properly (4 to 1 rule) • Watch where you lean ladders • Secure ladders top and bottom

17. Climb and Descend Safely • Wear proper shoes • Allow only one person on the ladder at a time • Face the ladder when climbing and descending, and hold onto rails with both hands • Carry tools so hands are free • Hoist up materials once you’re up

18. Climb and Descend Safely (cont.) • Keep one hand on the ladder while you work • Keep your body centered • Don’t overreach • Move slowly and cautiously • Never slide down a ladder

19. Inspect Ladders Before Each Use • Be sure to check: • Joints • Hardware and fittings • Moveable parts • Ropes • Safety feet and locks • Rungs and steps

20. Stair and Ladder Hazards • Do you understand the information presented in the previous slides?

21. What to Do If You’re Falling • Bend elbows and knees to absorb shock • Roll with the fall • Tuck your head • Use hands and forearms to break the fall • Yell or exhale as you fall

22. What to Do If You’re Injured • Report the incident to your supervisor • Get medical attention • Follow doctor’s orders

23. Key Points to Remember • Keep walkways clean and clear • Clean up spills promptly and pick up trip hazards from the floor • Make sure stairs and ladders are safe and use them carefully • Walk slowly, watch where you’re going, and wear proper shoes • Don’t carry loads that block your vision