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Slips, Trips, and Falls: Causes and Preventions Thomas F. Bloom, PE, CIH, CSP
Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation
Division of Safety and Hygiene
135 Merchant Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
Tel: 513/403-9897
E-mail: [email protected]
For presentation to Greater Hamilton Safety Council
March 13, 2019
Acknowledgements Benjamin Hissam, REM, CHSP, CHST
Industrial Safety Consultant Specialist
Division of Safety and Hygiene
Cincinnati Service Office
135 Merchant Street
Springdale, Ohio 45246
Tel: (513) 646-3199 Cell/Voicemail/Pager
Fax: (614) 621-5775 Fax
E-mail: [email protected]
Cynthia Eghbalnia, MPH, CIH
Environmental Health and Safety Manager
Cincinnati Public Schools
2651 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
Tel: 513/363-0107
E-mail: [email protected]
o Describe ‘mechanisms’ of slips, trips, and falls
o Show examples of unsafe conditions
o Discuss regulatory methods to prevent STF
o Discuss educational methods to prevent STF
o Summarize new requirements for fixed ladders
Objectives
o Accounts for one out of six lost time injuries
o 60% associated with falls at same
o 40% of fatalities in construction result from STF
• These injuries result in 50% more days away from work than for other construction injuries
Slips, trips, and falls
STF occurs in industrial environments
o Manufacturing
o Retail – Food Service
o Construction
STF occurs in non-industrial environments
Photo used with permission of Marsh USA, Inc.
What’s wrong with this picture?
o Happens when there is too little friction between footwear and the walking surface.
o Common causes:
• wet or oily surfaces
• uneven surfaces
• spills
• weather hazards---ice, snow, wet surfaces
• unanchored rugs or mats and flooring
• Clutter and debris
• walking surfaces with varying degrees of traction
Causes of slips
o Happens when your foot collides by striking or hitting
an object, causing you to lose your balance and then
fall.
o Common causes of trips are:
• Obstructed view
• Poor lighting
• Clutter
• Wrinkled carpeting
• Uncovered cables
• Bottom drawers not being closed
• Uneven steps and walking surfaces
Causes of trips
o Most falls are a result of slips and trips
o Other causes: falls from heights, falls from
ladders, roofs, and stairs, or from jumping to a
lower level.
oUnsafe behaviors
Causes of falls
o STF can cause severe injuries such as broken
hands and arms, back injuries, strains to muscles
and ligaments, and even death.
o STF are a major source of workers compensation
claims incidence
o STF are a major source of workers compensation
medical and indemnity costs
Consequences
Examples of STF Hazards
Pic4
Photo used with permission of Marsh USA, Inc.
Pic10
Pic11
Pic12
Pic13
Pic14
Picture #19
National Association of Home Builders
Picture #22
National Association of Home Builders
Pic5
Photo used with permission of Marsh USA, Inc.
Pic7
Photo used with permission of Marsh USA, Inc.
Picture #18
National Association of Home Builders
Regulatory approaches to STF prevention:
Subpart D: Walking and Working Surfaces
29CFR1910.21-.30
Source: https://www.osha.gov/dte/library/powerpoints/MFC_General_Industry_FY17.pdf
o Provides flexibility to decide which fall protection method or system
works best for the work operation
• General-industry employers can now use guardrails and handrails, covers, personal fall
protection, designated areas and safety net systems
o NEW requirements for a variety of walking-working surfaces throughout
Subpart D
• Ladders, stairways, dock boards, scaffolds
o New PPE requirements under Subpart I
• 29CFR1910.140: Personal Fall Protection Systems
o Requires regular and periodic inspections and maintenance of all
walking-working surfaces
o Requires training for hazard recognition and abatement
o No ‘program’ requirements per se: but written program covering hazard
assessment and prevention would be expected
New STF rule: effective 1/17/17
New STF rule (continued) o Extended compliance dates for some requirements
• Employee training by 5/17/17
• Equip existing fixed ladders with a cage, well, ladder safety system, or personal fall
arrest system by 11/19/18
• Equip new fixed ladders with a ladder safety system or personal fall arrest system;
November 19, 2018
• Equip all fixed ladders with a ladder safety system or personal fall arrest system by
11/18/36
• More information at:
o https://www.jjkeller.com/learn/osha-walking-working-surfaces-rule-faqs
General Requirements: Aisles and Passageways
o Keep clear and move obstructions that could create a
hazard
o Mark permanent aisles and passageways
• Aisles must be sufficiently wide where mechanical handling
equipment is used
o Surfaces should be clear
of obstructions that could
cause a slip or fall hazard
o Floors kept free from
protruding nails, splinters,
broken wood pallets
Housekeeping
Floor Hole o Defined as an opening measuring less
than 12 in. but more than 1 in. in its
least dimension, in a floor, platform,
pavement or yard, through which
materials but not persons may fall
o Every floor hole into which persons can
accidentally walk must be guarded by
either:
• standard railing with toeboard, or
• cover
33
Railing/toeboard definitions
o 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.
o Standard toeboard. 4 inches high, with not more than ¼-inch clearance above the floor
Standard railing and toeboard needed?
Anything else wrong here?
o Every skylight floor opening and hole shall be guarded by a standard skylight screen or a fixed standard railing on all exposed sides
o Every ladderway floor opening or platform shall be guarded by a standard railing with standard toe board on all exposed sides (except at entrance to opening), with the passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person cannot walk directly into the opening
o Every pit and trap door floor opening, infrequently used, must be guarded
by a floor opening cover of standard strength and construction.
o While the cover is not in place, the pit or trap opening must be constantly
attended by someone or protected on all exposed sides by removable
standard railings.
Floor Opening
o How would you prevent this???
Floor opening
large enough
to fall through
o All open-sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways
above or adjacent to dangerous equipment, guarded
with a standard railing and toe board
Equipment traverses
over wiring pit opening
General Requirements Floor Loading Protection o Load ratings (for
mezzanines) must be
marked on plates and be
conspicuously posted
o Do not exceed the load
rating limit
FIXED STAIRS o 1910.23(d)(1)
• 4 or more risers need rail system
o 1910.24(c)
• 5X their intended load but never less than 1000 lbs
• Width 22” minimum
Photo used with permission of Marsh USA, Inc.
Hand rail needed?
Fixed Industrial Stairs
o Treads must be slip resistant with uniform rise height and tread width
o Must be able to carry 5 times expected load; minimum of 1000 pounds
o Minimum width of 22 inches Violation here – several
steps bent and damaged
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).
Do we also need a handrail
system surrounding the ladder
landing on the roof?
Ladder Angle Portable Rung and Cleat Ladders
Portable Metal Ladders 1910.26
o (a)(1)(v)Rungs corrugated or knurled
o (c)(2)(iv)Ladders must be maintained in good
usable condition at all times.
o (c)(2)(vii)Ladders having defects are to be
marked and taken out of service until
repaired by either maintenance department
or the manufacturer
National Association of Home Builders
Ok to use the backside of the step ladder to increase
reach?
Fixed Ladders 1910.28
Each fixed ladder installed on and after November
19, 2018, is equipped with a personal fall arrest
system or a ladder safety system
On and after November 18, 2036, all fixed ladders
are equipped with a personal fall arrest system
[PFAS] or a ladder safety system
Educational approaches to STF prevention
Summary o Slips, trips, and falls constitute the majority of general industry
accidents
o OSHA’s standards for walking and working surfaces include
requirements for housekeeping, guarding floor and wall openings
and holes, industrial stairs and ladders
o Keeping working surfaces clean, dry, and uncluttered can prevent
many workplace accidents
o Consider BOTH regulatory and educational approaches to STF
prevention
Source: http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/2010/09/16/i-thought-i-was-crazy/
…need for effective PFAS…..
Questions?
