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