Slips, Trips, and Falls
Fall Factors
• Friction
• Momentum
• Gravity
1a
What happens when you slip
• Loss of balance caused by too little friction
• Loss of traction
• Wet surfaces
• Spills
2a
What happens when you slip
• Weather hazards
• Potential solutions• practice safe walking skills• clean up spills• keep grease off shop floors• be cautious on smooth surfaces
2b
Preventing slips
• Use appropriate footwear
• Increase friction between shoes and walking surface
3a
Preventing slips
• Strap-on cleats
• Proper footwear selection
3b
Why trips occur
• When a person trips:• worker’s foot hits an object• balance is thrown off• creates momentum to fall
4a
Why trips occur
• Cluttered work areas
• Poor lighting
• Area has loose footing
4b
Why trips occur
• Worker is in a hurry
• Worker is inattentive
4c
Preventing trips
• Ensure you can see over the load you are carrying
• Ensure adequate lighting
• Keep work areas free of clutter/litter
5a
Preventing trips
• Keep furniture out of walkways/traffic areas
• Tape down extension cords/keep out of walkways
5b
Preventing trips
• Eliminate loose footing on stairs, steps, floors
• Properly store ramps and gangplanks in loading dock areas
5c
Why falls occur
• Person moves too far away from center of balance
• Caused by:• makeshift ladders• misuse of ladders• poor climbing habits• improper scaffolding
use
6a
Preventing falls
• Don’t jump from elevations• docks• trucks• work stages
• Ensure adequate lighting
6b
Preventing falls
• Repair or report loose or broken stairs, handrails
• Don’t use stairs/aisles as storage areas
• Wear appropriate footwear
6c
Prevent injury on stairs
• Use handrails whenever possible
• Walk up and down stairs; don’t run
• Ensure you can see over the load you are carrying
7a
Prevent injury on stairs
• Report unsafe conditions, including broken:• stair treads• floor boards• handrails
7b
Ladder and scaffold safety
• Don’t use makeshift ladders• piling up boxes, chairs,
benches
• Inspect ladders before use• missing or broken
rungs
8a
Ladder and scaffold safety
• Face the ladder when climbing
• Use both hands on ladders
• Hoist materials up to you
8b
Ladder and scaffold safety
• Keep your center of balance on ladder
• Adjust position of ladder - don’t overreach
• Use the four-to-one rule• for every foot up, have
3 inches (1/4 foot) out
8c
Ladder and scaffold safety
• One person at a time on a ladder
• Don’t stand on top step of ladder
• Stay away from ladders to avoid falling objects
8d
Ladder and scaffold safety
• Check scaffolding daily for defects
• Clear work surfaces of snow, ice, slippery material
8e
Ladder and scaffold safety
• Respect the load limits of scaffolds
• Lock wheels/casters on mobile scaffolding
• Use proper PPE
8f
Summary of main points
• Fall factors
• Why slips occur
• Why trips occur
9a
Summary of main points
• Why falls occur
• Hazards of stairs
• Ladder and scaffold safety
9b
Fall Protection
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Slips, Trips and Falls Test