Slip, Trip and FallSlip, Trip and FallPreventionPrevention

Fort Lee Safety Office765-3130

What’s the problem ?What’s the problem ? It is the It is the #1#1 leading causeleading cause of injury of injury

STF’s represent about a fourth of all STF’s represent about a fourth of all claimsclaims

Each fiscal years there are thousandsEach fiscal years there are thousands of casesof cases

Total Total incurred costsincurred costs of these claims are of these claims are in the tens of thousands.in the tens of thousands.

Slip, Trip and Fall Claims BreakdownSlip, Trip and Fall Claims Breakdown

Same Level Same Level (50%)(50%) Different Level Different Level (14%)(14%) Stairs Stairs (14%)(14%) Liquid & Spills Liquid & Spills ( 9%)( 9%) Slip / No Fall Slip / No Fall ( 5%)( 5%) Ice / Snow Ice / Snow ( 5%)( 5%) Floor Openings Floor Openings ( 2%)( 2%) Ladder / Scaffold Ladder / Scaffold ( 1%)( 1%)

SlipsSlips

SlipSlip-loss of balance caused by too little friction -loss of balance caused by too little friction between a person’s foot and a walking surface.between a person’s foot and a walking surface.

Common Causes:Common Causes:• Wet or oily surfaces,Wet or oily surfaces,• Occasional spills,Occasional spills,• Weather hazards,Weather hazards,• Loose, unanchored rugs or mats, andLoose, unanchored rugs or mats, and• Flooring or other walking surfaces that are worn.Flooring or other walking surfaces that are worn.

TripsTripsTripTrip

- hit an object, lose your balance and - hit an object, lose your balance and fallfall

Common Causes:Common Causes:• Obstructed viewObstructed view• Poor lightingPoor lighting• Clutter in your wayClutter in your way• Wrinkled carpetingWrinkled carpeting• Uncovered cablesUncovered cables• Drawers not being closedDrawers not being closed• Uneven (steps, thresholds) walking surfacesUneven (steps, thresholds) walking surfaces

FallsFalls Fall:Fall:

- when you lose your balance & drop to the floor- when you lose your balance & drop to the floor

There are three types of falls:There are three types of falls: Falls on the same levelFalls on the same level

• Slip or trip immediately precedes fall to floor or walkwaySlip or trip immediately precedes fall to floor or walkway Falls to lower levelFalls to lower level

• Falls are from platforms, docks, ladders, steps or stairsFalls are from platforms, docks, ladders, steps or stairs Jumps to lower levelJumps to lower level

• An intentional jump from one level to anotherAn intentional jump from one level to another• Employee jumps off ladder, dock, equipmentEmployee jumps off ladder, dock, equipment

PreventionPrevention

Good housekeepingGood housekeeping

Quality of walking surfaces Quality of walking surfaces (flooring)(flooring)

Selection of proper footwearSelection of proper footwear

Appropriate pace of workAppropriate pace of work

HousekeepingHousekeeping

Clean up spills immediatelyClean up spills immediately

Mark spills and wet areasMark spills and wet areas

Mop or sweep debris from floorMop or sweep debris from floor

Remove obstacles from walkwaysRemove obstacles from walkways

Keep walkways free of clutterKeep walkways free of clutter

Secure mats, rugs and carpetsSecure mats, rugs and carpets

HousekeepingHousekeeping

• Close file cabinet or storage drawersClose file cabinet or storage drawers

• Cover cables that cross walkwaysCover cables that cross walkways

• Keep working areas and walkwaysKeep working areas and walkways well litwell lit

• Replace burned out bulbsReplace burned out bulbs

FlooringFlooring

Change or modify walking surfacesChange or modify walking surfaces

• Recoat or replace floorsRecoat or replace floors• Install matsInstall mats• Pressure-sensitive abrasive strips Pressure-sensitive abrasive strips • Abrasive-filled paint-on coating Abrasive-filled paint-on coating • Metal or synthetic deckingMetal or synthetic decking

FootwearFootwear

Conditions:Conditions:• Floors - oily or wet Floors - oily or wet • Considerable time Considerable time

outdoorsoutdoors

AdvantagesAdvantages• Properly fittedProperly fitted• Increased comfort Increased comfort • Prevent fatigue Prevent fatigue • Improve safetyImprove safety

What can What can YOUYOU do to avoid slipping at work?do to avoid slipping at work?

Take your timeTake your time

Pay attentionPay attention

Adjust stride to the taskAdjust stride to the task

Walk with feet pointed slightly Walk with feet pointed slightly outwardoutward

Make wide turns at corners.Make wide turns at corners.

What can What can YOUYOU do to avoid tripping at do to avoid tripping at work?work?

Sufficient lightingSufficient lighting

Portable lighting Portable lighting

Watch where you are walkingWatch where you are walking

Carrying or pushing objectsCarrying or pushing objects• obstructions, spills or objects lying on the obstructions, spills or objects lying on the

floorfloor

Inclement WeatherInclement Weather• Slow down to react to a change in Slow down to react to a change in

tractiontraction

• Wearing slip-resistant shoes or overshoesWearing slip-resistant shoes or overshoes carry your work shoescarry your work shoes

• Sunglasses Sunglasses outdoors in ice and snowoutdoors in ice and snow

• Treat walking surfacesTreat walking surfaces

• Wet shoes on dry floors – Caution !Wet shoes on dry floors – Caution !

Report Hazards ImmediatelyReport Hazards Immediately

If you cannot fix the hazard yourself then:If you cannot fix the hazard yourself then:

• Immediately report the hazardImmediately report the hazard

• Alert or warn others in the areaAlert or warn others in the area Mark the area or stay there until help arrivesMark the area or stay there until help arrives

• Hazards not fixed in a timely mannerHazards not fixed in a timely manner Contact the your Unit Safety OfficerContact the your Unit Safety Officer

Can you identify what is wrong Can you identify what is wrong in the following pictures?in the following pictures?

Fort Lee Safety Office765-3130

Contact The Safety Office For Addition Training Material