Injury Prevention

Massachusetts Care Self-Insurance Group, Inc.

Safety Awareness For Everyone from Cove Risk Services

Slips, Trips and Falls

• You take hundreds of steps every day, but how many of those steps do you take seriously?

• By taking a few minutes to understand how slips, trips, and falls happen, you can prevent needless and painful injuries.

Injury Prevention

Slips, Trips And FallsSome Statistics…

• Falls on the same level were the second leading cause of all workplace injuries

• Costs associated with slips and falls grow 10% on an annual basis when most workplace injuries experienced a substantial reduction in their rate of growth

• On average, workers who are injured from a same level slip or fall miss an average of 8 days and 30% of all same level slip or fall miss 21 or more days

Definitions

Slip: Loss of balance caused by too little friction between a person’s foot and a walking surface

Trip: Hit an object, lose your balance and fall

Fall: When you lose your balance and lose your footing

Slips, Trips And Falls

PREVENT THEM BY REMEMBERING THE FOLLOWING:

– Know your path of travel - do not allow objects to remain in the way and create a tripping hazard

– Know the risk factors – water, urine, icy conditions (outside), cords, furniture, carts (see the following slide)

– Wear right footwear – it is essential to preventing slips– React promptly – remove the hazards, clear up spillages

quickly (if inside - use signage until area is clean – remove the sign when the floor is dry) ~ don’t wait for someone else to do it

– Communicate hazards to others – meetings, awareness handouts, posters, etc.

Slips, Trips And Falls

– Worn or loose carpets– Cords!– Urine– Water– Food– Broken stair tread edges– Cracked floorboards and tiles– Watch where you walk!– Footwear – slip resistant – Pick up objects that fall – don’t wait for

someone else to do it!– Never, never, never assume the floor is

dry– Transitions

Slips, Trips And FallsWatch out for:

SLIPS (defined): to slide along smoothly resulting in a sudden mishap.

• Winter Walking surfaces are unpredictable – footwear is vital

• Weather conditions may cause the floors to be wet or the ground to be icy.

• Make sure carpets extend beyond the moisture at entrances

• Always look where you are stepping and use caution on wet floors and ice to avoid slipping. Never assume the walking surface is dry.

TRIPS (defined): to catch the foot on something so as to stumble.

• Damaged steps or misplaced items are major factors in trips.

• Make sure that steps you use often are in good shape and that items (that do not belong on the steps) are out of the way.

• Always use handrails when ascending or descending stairs.

• Watch where you are going

• Create visual awareness to steps by installing proper stair treads with yellow edges.

• Distraction on stairs

• Take one step at a time

• Don’t load your arms so full of materials that you can’t see

• Keep one hand on the handrail

• Don’t congregate on stairs or landings

• Keep stairs well lit

Stairs

• Prevent a potential injury by cleaning up spills and wet floors.

• Keep aisles and walkways clear of clutter or obstructions.

• Pick up objects and move extension cords to eliminate the potential for injury.

Other Hazards

• If something is creating a potential slip, trip, or fall hazard fix it (clean it up - move it).

• Place signs to warn others of the potential hazard.

• If you can not fix it – Report it to a manager so that the maintenance department can abate the hazard.

Your Responsibilities

Any Questions

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Massachusetts Care Self-Insurance Group, Inc.

Safety Awareness For Everyone from Cove Risk Services