Slips, Slips, Trips, Trips,

and Fallsand Falls

Section ISection I

IntroductionIntroduction

2

IntroductionIntroduction

Hazards of slips, trips, and fallsHazards of slips, trips, and falls

Ways to avoid the hazardsWays to avoid the hazards

3

Fall FactorsFall Factors

FrictionFriction

MomentumMomentum

GravityGravity

4

Section IISection II

SlipsSlips

5

What happens when What happens when you slipyou slip

Loss of balance caused by too Loss of balance caused by too little frictionlittle friction

6

Why slips occurWhy slips occur

Loss of tractionLoss of traction

– Wet surfacesWet surfaces

– SpillsSpills

– Weather hazardsWeather hazards

7

What happens when What happens when you slipyou slip

Potential solutionsPotential solutions– Practice safe walking skillsPractice safe walking skills

– Clean up spillsClean up spills

– Keep grease off shop floorsKeep grease off shop floors

– Be cautious on smooth surfacesBe cautious on smooth surfaces

8

Preventing slipsPreventing slips

Use appropriate footwearUse appropriate footwear

Increase friction between shoes and Increase friction between shoes and walking surfacewalking surface

9

Preventing slipsPreventing slips

Strap-on cleatsStrap-on cleats

Non-skid bootsNon-skid boots

Proper footwear selectionProper footwear selection

10

Preventing slipsPreventing slips

Floor FinishesFloor Finishes– CleaningCleaning

– WaxingWaxing

11

Section IIISection III

TripsTrips

12

How trips occurHow trips occur

When a person trips:When a person trips:– Worker’s foot hits an Worker’s foot hits an

objectobject– Balance is thrown offBalance is thrown off– Creates momentum Creates momentum

to fallto fall

13

Why trips occurWhy trips occur

Cluttered work areasCluttered work areas

Poor lightingPoor lighting

Area has loose Area has loose footingfooting

14

Why trips occurWhy trips occur

Worker is in a hurryWorker is in a hurry

Worker is inattentiveWorker is inattentive

15

Preventing tripsPreventing trips

Be sure you can see over the load you are Be sure you can see over the load you are carryingcarrying

Ensure adequate lightingEnsure adequate lighting

Keep work areas free of clutter/litterKeep work areas free of clutter/litter

16

Preventing tripsPreventing trips

Keep furniture and equipment out of Keep furniture and equipment out of walkways/traffic areaswalkways/traffic areas

Tape down extension cords orTape down extension cords orkeep them out of walkwayskeep them out of walkways

17

Preventing tripsPreventing trips

Eliminate loose footing on stairs, Eliminate loose footing on stairs, steps, floorssteps, floors

Properly store ramps and gangplanks Properly store ramps and gangplanks in loading dock areasin loading dock areas

18

Section IVSection IV

FallsFalls

19

Why falls occurWhy falls occur

Person moves too far away from Person moves too far away from center of balancecenter of balance

Caused by:Caused by:– Makeshift laddersMakeshift ladders– Misuse of laddersMisuse of ladders– Poor climbing habitsPoor climbing habits– Improper scaffolding useImproper scaffolding use

20

Preventing fallsPreventing falls

Don’t jump from elevationsDon’t jump from elevations– DocksDocks– TrucksTrucks– Work stagesWork stages

Ensure adequate lightingEnsure adequate lighting

21

Preventing fallsPreventing falls

Repair or report loose or broken Repair or report loose or broken stairs, handrailsstairs, handrails

Don’t use stairs/aisles as storage Don’t use stairs/aisles as storage areasareas

Wear appropriate footwearWear appropriate footwear

22

Section VSection V

Stair HazardsStair Hazards

23

Prevent injury on stairsPrevent injury on stairs

Use handrails whenever possibleUse handrails whenever possible

Walk up and down stairs; don’t runWalk up and down stairs; don’t run

Ensure you can see over the load you Ensure you can see over the load you are carryingare carrying

24

Prevent injury on stairsPrevent injury on stairs

Report unsafe conditions, including Report unsafe conditions, including broken:broken:– Stair treadsStair treads

– Floor boardsFloor boards

– HandrailsHandrails

25

Section VISection VI

Ladders and Ladders and ScaffoldsScaffolds

26

Ladder safetyLadder safety

Don’t use makeshift laddersDon’t use makeshift ladders– Don’t pile up boxes, chairs, benchesDon’t pile up boxes, chairs, benches

Inspect ladders before useInspect ladders before use– Don’t use one with missing or broken rungsDon’t use one with missing or broken rungs

27

Ladder safetyLadder safety

Face the ladder when climbingFace the ladder when climbing

Use both hands on laddersUse both hands on ladders

Hoist materials Hoist materials up to youup to you

28

Ladder safetyLadder safety

Keep your center of balance Keep your center of balance near laddernear ladder

Adjust position of ladder – Adjust position of ladder – don’t overreachdon’t overreach

Use the four-to-one ruleUse the four-to-one rule– For every foot up, have For every foot up, have

3 inches (1/4 foot) out3 inches (1/4 foot) out

29

Ladder safetyLadder safety

One person at a time on a ladderOne person at a time on a ladder

Don’t stand on top step of Don’t stand on top step of ladderladder

When not using the ladder, When not using the ladder, stay away to avoid falling stay away to avoid falling objectsobjects

30

Scaffold safetyScaffold safety

Check scaffolding daily for defectsCheck scaffolding daily for defects

Clear work surfaces of Clear work surfaces of snow, ice, slippery snow, ice, slippery materialsmaterials

31

Scaffold safetyScaffold safety

Respect the load limits ofRespect the load limits ofscaffoldsscaffolds

Lock wheels/casters on Lock wheels/casters on mobile scaffoldingmobile scaffolding

32

Section VIISection VII

SummarySummary

33

Summary of main pointsSummary of main points

Fall factorsFall factors

Why slips occurWhy slips occur

Why trips occurWhy trips occur

34

Summary of main pointsSummary of main points

Why falls occurWhy falls occur

Hazards of stairsHazards of stairs

Ladder and scaffold safetyLadder and scaffold safety

35

QuestionsQuestions

36