Preventing Falls, Slips and Trips

1. Preventing Falls, Slips and Trips

2. Falls/Slips/Trips (FSTs) Falls/Slips/Trips accounted for over $4,000,000 of Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation Injury costs, and approximately 24% of the total injuries for FY2014. You take hundreds of steps every day, but how many of those steps do you take seriously? Please take a few minutes to understand how Falls/Slips/Trips happen. YOU CAN PREVENT needless and painful injuries.

3. Definition of FST Friction: The resistance encountered when an object (foot) is moved in contact with another (ground). Friction is necessary in order to walk without slipping. Definition of FSTs When there is too little friction or traction between your feet (footwear) and the walking or working surface, and you lose your balance. Fall Slip Occurs when you are too far off your center of balance.. When your foot (or lower leg) hits an object and your upper body continues moving, throwing you off balance. When you step down unexpectedly to a lower surface (Misstep) and lose your balance, e.g., stepping off a curb. Trip Trip

4. Two Types of Falls Fall-to-lower-level When you fall to a level below the one on which you are walking, working, or standing. When you fall to the surface you are walking or standing on, or fall into or against objects at or above the surface. For example: • Steps or stairs • Ladder • Platform • Loading dock • Truck bed Fall-at-the-same-level

5. Slips, Trips & Falls #1 injury for State of Georgia • General Housekeeping • Keep All walkways clear • Cabinets • Secured to wall • Keep drawers closed • Cords, Cables & Wires • Out of walkways • Personal Belongings • Stored Properly

6. Can FSTs be prevented? YES! We will discuss a few prevention strategies. Housekeeping, Footwear, Maintenance are the main three issues to be addressed. HOWEVER, THE BIG #4 IS INATTENTION! Do not text while walking or on stairs. Look where you are walking. Use handrails while on stairs.

7. Social/emotional factors Concentration Preoccupied In a hurry Complacency Contributing factors to why we fall.

8. Avoidance! Go around when possible! The few seconds you save will not make up for hours of recovery from a fall. Weather conditions may cause the floors to be wet. Use caution at building entrances, parking lots and walkways. Watch where you are stepping and use caution on wet floors to avoid slipping. SLIP Prevention

9. Causes of Slips Metal has a lower force of friction/traction and can be more slippery than many other materials. Metal surfaces can become smooth and slippery with wear, and are extremely slick when wet, muddy, or greasy. • Ramps and gang planks without skid/slip-resistant surfaces. • Metal surfaces, such as duckboards and dock plates, platforms, construction plates or covers on sidewalks and roads.

10. Causes of Slips 3 Point Grip Required! Metal rungs, steps, footholds, treads, running boards, platforms on equipment and ladders become even slicker when worn, smooth and contaminated with water, mud, oil, grease, dirt, and debris. Mounting and dismounting trucks, tractors, heavy equipment, machinery. Getting on and off truck trailers & truck beds Climbing up and down ladders

11. Courtesy of Construction Safety Association of Ontario Mounting/Dismounting Equipment • Maintain three-point contact at all times while getting onto/off of the equipment until reaching ground, cab, or stable platform. • one hand, two feet • two hands, one foot Three-point contact: • Do not jump off when dismounting or getting off the bed of a truck or other part of the equipment. Step down carefully while facing equipment (reverse order of the pictures above).

12. Exiting and Entering A Van • Maintain three-point contact at all times while exiting and entering a passenger van. One should be holding the door, the steering wheel or the handle depending on the height of the vehicle. Three-point contact: • one hand, two feet • two hands, one foot • Watch your footing. Running boards and steps can get icy or have gravel on them. Make sure that the surface is clear of obstructions, rain, ice, etc. so that you don’t slip or trip on the way in and out.

13. Causes of Slips Loose, irregular surfaces, such as gravel Sloped or uneven terrain, sidewalks Muddy terrain Weather hazards: rain, sleet, ice, snow, hail, frost Leaves, pine needles, plant debris (especially if wet)

14. Make sure that steps you use often are in good shape and that items (that do not belong on the steps) are out of the way. Use handrails when ascending or descending stairs. (3 Point Contact!) Damaged steps or misplaced items are major factors in trips.Report any problems to supervision or maintenance. TRIP Prevention

15. Causes of Trips A penny is 0.0598 inches (1.52 mm) in thick x 5 = 0.299 inches • Elevation changes of more than ¼ inch difference. • “Penny test” if the elevation change is more than five pennies it is too much. Cracks in a floor, elevator doors, sidewalks, carpet tears – all can be a source of trouble.

16. Trips in Parking Lots and Garages Unmarked elevation changes: • speed bumps • curbs • wheelchair accessible ramps • Driveways • Potholes • Are there designated walkways in the parking area? Use Them!! Curbs Speed bumps Wheelchair accessible ramp

17. Eliminate the hazard when possible (i.e. broken chair, unstable ladder, etc...). Practice good judgment. Don’t lean back in chairs. DO NOT climb on chairs, unstable shelving or tables. Make sure you can see your path of travel. FALL Prevention

18. Close file cabinets or storage drawers. Cover cables that cross walkways. Keep work areas and walkways well lit. Replace burned out bulbs. AVOID using improper cleaning methods (e.g.: incorrectly using wax or polish; or trying to clean up grease spills with water). Housekeeping

19. HousekeepingDON’Ts………… • Propping fire doors open. • Storing materials in stairwells. • Storing trash cans in front of the doorway. • Using cinderblocks to prop open the doors. • Do……… • Report these dangers!

20. Use good judgment with regard to footwear while on duty. Be certain footwear is in good condition and appropriate to your job function and outside weather conditions. Match the shoe to the hazards. Use steel toes and steel soles where necessary. FOOTWEAR

21. Footwear Slick smooth-surfaced soles • Taps on heels High heels Footwear that may not be suitable for the environment (reduced traction) Two Penney Test: If the worn smooth area on your shoes exceeds two pennies it probably time to replace/repair them.

22. Behaviors Behaviors – actions you choose and control can contribute to a slip, trip, and fall injury if you set yourself up for one. Carrying or moving cumbersome objects, or too many objects that obstruct your view, impair your balance and prevent you from holding onto handrails. Inattentive Behavior: walking, distractions (e.g.: using cell phone, talking and not watching where you’re going, etc.). Taking shortcuts: not using walkways or designated cleared pathways, being in a hurry, rushing around.

23. If something is creating a potential fall, slip or trip hazard fix it (clean it up; move it). Place signs or barricade to warn others of the potential hazard. If you cannot fix it, contact building management so that they are aware of the problem. Are floors on your safety checklist? WHAT CAN YOU DO?

24. Fall, Slip and Trip Hazard PROBLEM Slip: if it is wet outside and the mat is folded back, then the floor is getting wet instead of the mat absorbing the water. Trip: the mat is folded back and someone could catch their foot on the mat and trip. Fall: both a wet floor and caught foot could contribute to a fall. FIX! Or Report this danger!

25. Employees should immediately report all work related injuries to their supervisor. Report the unsafe conditions to the property management to get the problem fixed. Just a few items to think about as we go through the day to improve your Safety. ALWAYS Think Prevention! Notify Supervisor

26. OTHER HAZARDS • Prevent a potential injury by cleaning up spills and wet floors. • Keep aisles and walkways clear of clutter or obstructions.Aisles in areas accessible to the public should be at least 44 inches wide. • Pick up objects and move extension cords to eliminate the potential for injury. • Secure loose rugs or mats.

27. Health and physical condition can impair a person’s vision, judgment, and balance. Eyesight, visual perception Age Physical state, fatigue Stress, illness Medications, alcohol, drugs Other Factors

28. Examples of preventable falls Don’t stand on tables or file cabinets. Never, Ever, Ever Stand in a swivel chair. Don’t stand on furniture not intended for standing/climbing. Don’t sit on banisters. Report/repair uneven or wobbly furniture and handrails. Preventing Falls

29. Make lifestyle decisions that include getting adequate rest, staying focused on your task and keeping stress under control. Stay focused on your task at hand. Take short breaks to allow for refocusing. Rest your mind and body. Manage stress and fatigue. It is not always the other guy that gets injured. It could be YOU! YOUR ROLE in Prevention of FSTs

30. To stay safe on the job and at home, make safety part of your daily routine: Grip hand rails with all your fingers and thumb Look ahead when climbing stairs without liftingyour head back. This tends to lean the body backward. Always carefully pay close attention to sitting down in your desk chair with casters or wheels on them. Note: Chairs should have a strong 5 legged base. Carry only loads of a comfortable weight. Stay in shape and control your weight. Maintaining muscle and weight helps control your center of gravity and balance. Pay attention to signs and warnings. Make Safety a Habit

31. Preventing accidents and injuries in the workplace involves teamwork. You and your co-workers need to work cooperatively to identify, report and correct unsafe conditions and behaviors. Make a commitment to yourself to develop an awareness of potential hazards. YOU are part of the Safety Program!

32. C. G. Lawrence, III, MS, CSP, REM, ARM-P Chief Loss Control & Safety Officer (404) 657-4457 Charles.Lawrence@doas.ga.gov Hiram Lagroon, BS Chief Loss Control & Safety Officer (404) 463-6309 Hiram.lagroon@doas.ga.gov Contact Information Questions?