slips, trips, and falls

Slips, Trips, and FallsSlips, Trips, and Falls

From:From:BLR 7 Minute Safety Trainer BLR 7 Minute Safety Trainer

& & Horizon GoodwillHorizon GoodwillSafety CommitteeSafety Committee

15 Slides15 Slides 22

Thousands of disabling injuries-and Thousands of disabling injuries-and even deaths-occur each year as a even deaths-occur each year as a result of slips, trips, and falls: result of slips, trips, and falls:

• From heights, on stairs, and on level From heights, on stairs, and on level groundground

• At work and at homeAt work and at home

Slips, Trips, and Falls Cause Slips, Trips, and Falls Cause Many Injuries – Sometimes Many Injuries – Sometimes Serious OnesSerious Ones


Safety Regulations Try to Safety Regulations Try to Remove Remove

Slip, Trip, and Fall HazardsSlip, Trip, and Fall Hazards

OSHA and company rules OSHA and company rules try to prevent slips, trips, try to prevent slips, trips, and falls by requiring:and falls by requiring:

• Floors that are kept clean, Floors that are kept clean, dry, and in good repairdry, and in good repair

• Aisles, stairs, and Aisles, stairs, and passageways that are free passageways that are free of clutter and obstructionsof clutter and obstructions


Safety Regulations Try to Safety Regulations Try to Remove Remove

Slip, Trip, and Fall HazardsSlip, Trip, and Fall Hazards

• Safe ladder design and useSafe ladder design and use

• Rails and guards around Rails and guards around floor and wall openingsfloor and wall openings

• Clean, orderly, sanitary Clean, orderly, sanitary work areaswork areas

Continued…


• Keep walkways, aisles, and stairs free Keep walkways, aisles, and stairs free of tools, materials, and other hazards.of tools, materials, and other hazards.

• Clean up any leaks or spills on floor, Clean up any leaks or spills on floor, stairs, entranceways, and loading stairs, entranceways, and loading docks promptly.docks promptly.

• Repair or report floor problems, such Repair or report floor problems, such as broken planks, missing tiles, etc.as broken planks, missing tiles, etc.

Maintain Work Areas to Maintain Work Areas to Prevent Slips, Trips, and FallsPrevent Slips, Trips, and Falls


Maintain Work Areas to Maintain Work Areas to Prevent Slips, Trips, and FallsPrevent Slips, Trips, and Falls

• Block off and mark floor areas that are Block off and mark floor areas that are being cleaned or repaired.being cleaned or repaired.

• Keep cords, power cables, and air hoses Keep cords, power cables, and air hoses out of walkways.out of walkways.

• Place trash promptly in proper Place trash promptly in proper containers.containers.

• Keep drawers closed.Keep drawers closed.

Continued…


• Report missing or broken stair rails and Report missing or broken stair rails and slippery or damaged treads.slippery or damaged treads.

• Walk, don’t run, on stairs.Walk, don’t run, on stairs.

-Hold onto stair rails while going up and -Hold onto stair rails while going up and down.down.

• Don’t jump on or off platforms and Don’t jump on or off platforms and loading docks, and stay away from edges.loading docks, and stay away from edges.

• Don’t carry a load you can’t see over, Don’t carry a load you can’t see over, especially on stairs or around dock edges.especially on stairs or around dock edges.

Take Precautions on Stairs and Take Precautions on Stairs and Dock EdgesDock Edges


Choose and Use Ladders Choose and Use Ladders CarefullyCarefully

• Use a ladder, not boxes or Use a ladder, not boxes or chairs, to reach high places.chairs, to reach high places.

• Use only ladders that have all Use only ladders that have all their parts.their parts.

• Check that cleats, rungs, and Check that cleats, rungs, and steps are firm and unbroken.steps are firm and unbroken.

• Choose a ladder that’s the right Choose a ladder that’s the right height for the job.height for the job.


Choose and Use Ladders Choose and Use Ladders CarefullyCarefully

• Place ladders firmly on level Place ladders firmly on level surfaces.surfaces.

• Hold the rails and face the ladder as Hold the rails and face the ladder as you climb it.you climb it.

• Center your body between the ladder Center your body between the ladder rails; don’t lean to the side.rails; don’t lean to the side.

Continued…


Pay Attention to Your Pay Attention to Your

Movements and SurroundingsMovements and Surroundings • Focus on where you’re going, what Focus on where you’re going, what

you’re doing, and what lies ahead.you’re doing, and what lies ahead.-Expect the unexpected.-Expect the unexpected.-Take responsibility for fixing, -Take responsibility for fixing, removing, or avoiding hazards in your removing, or avoiding hazards in your path.path.

• Wear sturdy shoes with nonskid soles Wear sturdy shoes with nonskid soles and flat heels.and flat heels.

• Avoid baggy or loose pants you could Avoid baggy or loose pants you could trip over.trip over.


Pay Attention to Your Pay Attention to Your Movements and SurroundingsMovements and Surroundings

• Walk, don’t run.Walk, don’t run.

• Wipe your feet when you Wipe your feet when you come in from rain or snowcome in from rain or snow

• Report or replace any Report or replace any burned out lights or burned out lights or inadequate lighting.inadequate lighting.

• Watch out for floors that Watch out for floors that are uneven, have holes, are uneven, have holes, etc.etc.

Continued…


Pay Attention to Your Pay Attention to Your Movements and SurroundingsMovements and Surroundings

• Keep your hands at your sides, not in Keep your hands at your sides, not in your pockets, for balance.your pockets, for balance.

• Don’t carry loads you can’t see over.Don’t carry loads you can’t see over.

• Walk slowly on slippery surfaces.Walk slowly on slippery surfaces.

-Slide your feet and avoid sharp turns.-Slide your feet and avoid sharp turns.

Continued…


Pay Attention to Your Pay Attention to Your Movements and Movements and SurroundingsSurroundings

• Sit in chairs with all four Sit in chairs with all four chair legs on the floor. chair legs on the floor. Make sure all wheels or Make sure all wheels or casters are on the floor.casters are on the floor.

• Watch for cables and Watch for cables and cords near your feet.cords near your feet.

• Be constantly alert for-and Be constantly alert for-and remove or go around-remove or go around-obstructions in your path.obstructions in your path.

Continued…


Learn to Fall ‘Properly’Learn to Fall ‘Properly’

If you do fall, you can reduce the chance If you do fall, you can reduce the chance of serious injury if you:of serious injury if you:

• Roll with the fallRoll with the fall

• Bend your elbows and knees and use Bend your elbows and knees and use your legs and arms to absorb the fallyour legs and arms to absorb the fall

• Get medical attention after a fall to Get medical attention after a fall to treat anything torn, sprained, or treat anything torn, sprained, or broken.broken.


Conclusion:Conclusion:

Be Alert and Safety Conscious – Be Alert and Safety Conscious – Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls

Pay attention to your movements Pay attention to your movements and remove potential hazards from and remove potential hazards from your path so you- and others won’t your path so you- and others won’t be injured by slips, trips, or falls.be injured by slips, trips, or falls.


Additional InformationAdditional Information

• Do you have questions?Do you have questions?

Ask your supervisorAsk your supervisor

Check the Safety Check the Safety Information Information section of the section of the Employees Only Employees Only websitewebsite

Email: [email protected]: [email protected]

slips, trips, and falls

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