Post on 13-Dec-2015
transcript
Preventing Slips, Tripsand Falls
Massachusetts Retail Merchants Workers’ Compensation Group, Inc.
Safety Awareness For Everyone from Cove Risk Services
Objectives
• Learn the causes of slips, trips and falls
• Learn how to prevent slips, trips and falls– Identify hazards– Implement controls– Incident reporting
Slip Sliding Away…
Slip: Loss of balance caused by too little friction between the walking surface and a person’s shoe
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Flooring 50%
Footwear 24%
Fraud 10%
Hazard Identification 9%
Training 7%
Source: National Floor Safety Institute
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Flooring 50%
Source: National Floor Safety Institute
• What type of floor?
• What’s on the floor?
• How do we maintain the floor?
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Flooring 50%
Source: National Floor Safety Institute
• What type of floor?
• What’s on the floor?
• How do we maintain the floor?
Housekeeping
Source: Maynard, W.S., The Aging Workforce: Implications For Managing Slips,Trips and Falls, The Eastern Ergonomics Conference and Exposition, NYC, May 30, 2007.
To Reduce Slips:
• Keep floors free from water or grease• Clean up spills immediately• Put up warning signs around spills or wet floors• Consider installing non-slip tiling or other non-
slip floor products• Use rubber mats where the floors are
constantly wet
Safe Shoes – Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s:• Slip-resistant soles and a
good tread• Tightly tied laces
Don’ts:• No leather or smooth soles
• No open-toes
• No platform or high heels
• No porous fabric such as canvas
Safe Shoes – Do’s and Don’ts
Source: Maynard, W.S., The Aging Workforce: Implications For Managing Slips,Trips and Falls, The Eastern Ergonomics Conference and Exposition, NYC, May 30, 2007.
Trips
Trip: Hit an object, lose your balance and fall
NOTE: As little as 3/8” rise in a walkway can cause someone to
“stub” his/her toe and fall.
NOTE: As little as 3/8” rise in a walkway can cause someone to
“stub” his/her toe and fall.
Indoor Trip Hazards
• Common causes:– Cluttered areas
– Rugs, mats, carpeting
– Exposed cables, cords
Outdoor Trip Hazards
• Cracks or holes in parking lots
• Watch for parking stops and speed bumps in parking lots
• Unmarked curb or ramp edges
Falls
Fall: When you lose your balance and drop to the floor (caused by slip or a trip)
• Falls on the same level– Slip or trip immediately precedes fall to floor or
walkway
• Falls to lower level– Falls are from ladders,
steps or stairs
Same Level Falls
• Mats sufficient running length and width– Snow: 10 – 12 walking steps
– Rain: 8 – 10 walking steps
– Dry: 6 – 8 walking steps
• Designed and placed so asnot to create additional fall hazard
Rule of thumb: Should not be able to see wet footprints after stepping
off mat.
Rule of thumb: Should not be able to see wet footprints after stepping
off mat.
Same Level Falls
• Use mirrors for blind corners
• Check windows on swinging doors so you can see if someone is coming in or out
Stairs
• Watch step edges and transition areas (changes in elevations).
• Utilize lighting and hand rails when on stairs.
• Watch the last step - don’t confuse the bottom step with the floor.
Incident Reporting
If you are injured, what should you do?• Report to your Supervisor or Manager
• Complete an Incident Report (IR) immediately
– Explain fully: who, what, where, when, how, why
– Give Incident Report to Supervisor or Manager
• Understand procedures for workers’ compensation medical practices at your workplace
Summary
• Purchase slip-resistant shoes • Be aware of flooring transitions• Take time to clean up spills
immediately• Be aware of trip hazards both
inside and outside of the restaurant
• Utilize only approved ladders and stepstools
• Be careful when using stairs