Falling, Impact, Acceleration,

Lifting, and Vision Hazards

Industrial SafetyLecture 5

Causes of Falls

• The primary causes of falls are:

– A falling object on the walking surface

– A design flaw in the walking surface

– A slippery surface

– A person’s impaired physical condition

Categories of Falls

• Most falls fit into one of four categories:

– Trip and fall

– Stump and fall

– Step and fall

– Slip and fall

Kinds of Falls (1 of 2)

• Common surface falls can be divided into four categories:

– Trip and fall

• When workers encounter an unseen foreign object in their path

– Stump and fall

• A worker’s foot suddenly meets a sticky surface or defect in a walking surface

Kinds of Falls (2 of 2)

– Step and fall

• A person’s foot encounters an unexpected step down

– Slip and fall

• The worker’s center of gravity is suddenly thrown out of balance

–This is the most common type of fall.

ANSI/NFSI B101.1 Standard for Measuring

Wet SCOF Traction (1 of 2)

• The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) was accredited by

the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a

Standards Developing Organization in 2006.

• Since that time NFSI has done significant work on the

prevention of slip and fall accidents.

ANSI/NFSI B101.1 Standard for Measuring Wet

SCOF Traction (2 of 2)

• Its most notable work has been the development of B101.1—

“Test Method for Measuring Wet SCOF of Common Hard-

Surface Floor Materials.”

– This standard provides a method for testing the

Coefficient of Friction (COF) for walking surfaces,

assigning a numerical rating, and tying that numerical

rating to the amount of traction the surface provides when

wet.

Measuring Surface Traction

• An effective way for comparing the relative traction of a given

surface is to use the coefficient of friction.

– A numerical comparison of the resistance of one surface

(shoe or boot) against another surface (the floor)

▪ Ice has a coefficient of friction of 0.10; concrete, 0.43.

▪ Linoleum has a coefficient of 0.33; waxed white oak

0.24.

Coefficients of friction and relative traction ratings.

Walking and Slipping

• Good housekeeping can be a major factor in reducing slip and

fall hazards.

– Water, oil, soap, coolant, and cleaning solvents on a floor

can decrease traction, turning a safe surface to a danger

zone.

Strategies for Preventing Slips

• Strategies for preventing slips include the following:

– Choose the right material from the outset

– Retrofit an existing surface

– Practice good housekeeping

– Require nonskid footwear

– Inspect surfaces frequently

A Slip and Fall Prevention Program (1 of 2)

• A slip and fall prevention program should have the following

components:

– Policy statement/commitment

– Review and acceptance of walkways

– Reconditioning and retrofitting

– Maintenance standards and procedures

– Inspection

– Audits

• Special attention should be given to building lobbies,

restrooms, kitchens, and processing areas.

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General Requirements Housekeeping

• Workplaces must be kept clean, orderly, and sanitary

• Workroom floors must be maintained as clean and dry as possible

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General Requirements Aisles and Passageways

• Keep clear and move obstructions that could create a hazard

• Mark permanent aisles and passageways

• Aisles must be sufficiently wide where mechanical handling equipment is used

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General Requirements Covers and Guardrails

• Provide covers and/or guardrails to protect workers from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, and the like.

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General Requirements Floor Loading Protection

• Load ratings must be marked on plates and be conspicuously posted

• Do not exceed the load rating limit

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Floor Opening

An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension in a floor, platform, pavement, or yard, through which persons may fall.

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Floor Opening

An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension in a floor, platform, pavement, or yard, through which persons may fall.

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Guarding Floor OpeningsDefinitions

• Standard railing. Consists of top rail, mid rail, and posts. Height from the upper surface of top rail to floor level is 42 inches. Mid rail height is 21 inches.

• Standard toeboard. 4 inches high, with not more than ¼-inch clearance above the floor.

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Stairway Floor Openings

Must be guarded by a standard railing on all exposed sides (except at entrance).

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Ladderway Floor Openings

• Guard with a standard railing with toeboard on all exposed sides (except entrance)

• Guard the passage through the railing with a swinging gate or offset it to prevent someone from walking into the opening

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Wall Openings

• Opening at least 30 in. high and 18 in. wide, in a wall or partition, through which persons may fall

• Wall openings from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet must be guarded

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Open-Sided Floors and Platforms

• Open-sided floors or platforms 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level must be guarded by a standard railing (or equivalent) on all open sides, except where there is an entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder

• A toeboard is required when, beneath the open sides:

– persons can pass,

– there is moving machinery, or

– there is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard

Unguarded Platform

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Open-Sided Floors, Walkways, Platforms, and Runways

Regardless of height, a standard railing and toeboard must be used to guard:- open-sided floors- walkways- platforms, or- runwaysabove or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar hazards.

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Fixed Industrial Stairs

• Treads must be slip resistant with uniform rise height and tread width

• Must be able to carry 5 times expected load; minimum of 1000 pounds

• Minimum width of 22 inches

Violation here – several steps bent and damaged

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Portable Ladders

• Ladders used to gain access to a roof or other area must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support

• Withdraw defective ladders from service and tag or mark "Dangerous, Do Not Use“

• Never use ladders in a horizontal position as scaffolds or work platforms

• Never use metal ladders near electrical equipment

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Use at angle where the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is ¼ the working length of the ladder (length along ladder between the foot and top support).

Ladder AnglePortable Rung and Cleat Ladders

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Fixed Ladders

• Permanently attached to a structure, building or equipment

• Cages or wells required if longer than 20 ft. to a maximum unbroken length of 30 ft.

• Ladder safety devices may be used on tower, water tank and chimney ladders over 20 ft. in unbroken length instead of cage protection

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ScaffoldingGeneral Requirements

• Must be capable of supporting four times the maximum intended load

• Do not alter or move while in use• Protect workers on scaffolds from

overhead hazards• If higher than 10 ft., use guardrails,

midrails and toeboards• Use wire mesh between the

toeboard and guardrail if people work or pass underneath

• Must be equipped with access ladder or equivalent

OSHA Recommendations for Fall Protection

• OSHA’s recommendations for fall protection include the

following:

– Have a plan.

– Establish requirements.

– Provide equipment and procedures.

– Ensure proper use and type of equipment.

– Provide training.

ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code (1 of 2)

• ANSI’s fall protection standards are not mandatory, but they can be

helpful in establishing a comprehensive fall protection program.

• An ANSI fall protection program will include at least the following

elements:

– Fall protection policy

– Goals for the program

– Comprehensive hazard analysis and records

ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code (2 of 2)

– Training

– Job specific plans for job sites

– Procedures for regular inspections

– Comprehensive rescue plan that is included in worker training

– Continual monitoring

Do’s and Don’ts of Ladder Safety

• Do’s and don’ts of ladder safety include:

– Checking for slipperiness

– Allowing only one person on a ladder at a time

– Securing the base and top on a level surface

– Appling the four-to-one ratio

– Facing the ladder when climbing

– Avoiding leaning

– Always holding on with one hand

OSHA Regulations that Apply to Fall Protection in

Scaffolding Work

• OSHA regulations that apply specifically to fall protection in

scaffolding work are as follows:

– 1926.451(g)(2)

– 1926.502(d)(15)

– 1926.451(d)(16)

Protection from Impact Injuries

• Protection from impact injuries from falling or projected objects

include personal protective equipment to protect the:

– Head (hard hats)

– Eyes and face (goggles or shields)

– Feet (footwear)

Head Protection (Rating Hard Hats) (1 of 2)

• The 2009 revision of ANSI Z89.1 established three non-

mandatory tests manufacturers of hard hats (work helmets)

can use to rate their products:

– Reverser donning

▪ Helmets rated for reverse donning pass all applicable

tests whether worn frontward or backward.

▪ This is important since reverse donning of work

helmets has become common.

Head Protection (Rating Hard Hats) (2 of 2)

– Lower temperature

▪ Helmets rated for lower temperatures (LT) pass all

applicable tests at temperatures of –30°C (–22°F).

– High visibility

▪ Helmets rated for high visibility (HV) pass all applicable

tests for high visibility colors including tests for

chromaticity and luminescence.

Types and Classes of Hard Hats (1 of 2)

• Type I

– Reduce force of blows to the top of the head.

• Type II

– Reduce force of blows to top of head, lateral blows, and

off-center blows.

• Class E (electrical)

– Provide protection for the head up to 20,000 volts.

Types and Classes of Hard Hats (2 of 2)

• Class G (general)

– Provide protection to the head up to 2,200 volts.

• Class C (conductive)

– No protection from electricity, but can provide better

breathability than other hard hats.

Standing Hazards

• Standing hazards can be minimized by using the following:

– Antifatigue mats

– Shoe inserts

– Foot rails

– Improved workplace design

– Sit/stand chairs

Widely Used Materials for Hand Protection (1 of 2)

• The most widely used materials in manufacturing gloves for

hand protection are:

– Leather

– Cotton

– Aramids

– Polyethylene

– Stainless steel cord

Widely Used Materials for Hand Protection (2 of 2)

– Chain link

– Metal mesh

– Butyl rubber

– Nitrile-based material

– Viton rubber

Hazard Protection

• Personal protective equipment should be the last line of

defense protecting employees from hazards.

• Before using PPE, every feasible engineering and

administrative control should be employed.

OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.178

• OSHA standard 29 CFR 1010.178 requires initial training

before an employee is allowed to operate a forklift:

– Refresher training under specified conditions

– An evaluation of forklift operator performance at least

every three years