Slips, trips, and falls may seem like a minor safety issue, but in truth they are a major source of injuries, lost workdays, and even deaths. Here is a look at the relevant OSHA standards, and at some accident-prevention steps.
Slips, trips, and falls—classic sources of slapstick humor, and maybe even the cause of few laughs in your own workplace when you or a co-worker has taken a minor tumble (provided nothing was hurt but pride).
But the costs of slips, trips, and falls, both monetarily and in human suffering, are sobering indeed when you consider:
–OSHA says that slips, trips, and falls account for the majority of all general industry accidents.
–They cause 15 percent of all accidental deaths (second only to motor vehicle accidents).
–They resulted in 234,450 instances of lost workdays in 2006, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
–They cost U.S. businesses $11.6 billion annually in direct medical costs and lost workdays, according to the 2007 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index.
Not so funny now, are they? And, what’s more, almost all of these accidents and injuries could have been prevented with proper housekeeping, work habits, and training. As OSHA states on its website:
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“There are many situations that may cause slips, trips, and falls, such as ice, wet spots, grease, polished floors, loose flooring or carpeting, uneven walking surfaces, clutter, electrical cords, open desk drawers and filing cabinets, and damaged ladder steps.
The controls needed to prevent these hazards are usually obvious, but too often ignored, such as keeping walkways and stairs clear of scrap and debris; coiling up extension cords, lines, and hoses when not in use; keeping electrical and other wires out of the way; wearing lug soles in icy weather; clearing parking lots, stairs, and walkways in snowy weather; and using salt/sand as needed.”
OSHA’s walking and working surfaces standard (also known as slips, trips, and falls) for general industry regulates most areas where employees may work or travel in the workplace. The surfaces include wall and floor openings, aisles, ladders, and scaffolds.
Although OSHA does not have a specific general industry rule for fall protection (like the one for construction), the agency considers that two rules serve as fall protection guidelines: The one that covers protection of open-sided floors, platforms, and runways, and the personal protective equipment rule. The walking/working surfaces rules apply to all permanent workplaces, except where only domestic, mining, or agricultural work is performed.
Our sister publication, the twice-monthly OSHA Compliance Advisor, says that a very basic requirement in achieving fall protection is housekeeping. All areas where employees work or travel, even infrequently, must be kept clear of hazards. Every floor, work area, and passageway must be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes, or loose boards. These surfaces must be clean and free of hazards that could interfere with normal activities.
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Where mechanical handling equipment is used, safe clearances must be allowed for aisles, at loading docks, through doorways, and wherever turns or passage must be made. Aisles and passageways must be kept clear and in good repair.
Other basic requirements deal with:
–Covers and guardrails: These must be used to protect employees.
–Floor loads: Those greater than approved by the building official must not be placed on a floor or roof of a building or other structure.
–Floor openings: All, including stairways, ladderways, hatchways, chutes, skylights, pits, and manholes, must be guarded by fixed or removable railings, screens, or toeboards. The rule describes the applicable guard for each type of opening.
–Wall openings: Every wall, window wall, and chute wall opening from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet must be guarded by one or more protection devices described in the rule. Every temporary wall opening must have adequate guards, but these need not be of standard construction.
–Open-sided floors, platforms, and runways: All must be guarded by a railing and, in certain cases, by a toeboard. The rule contains size and material specifications for railings, toeboards, covers, and screens.
Keep in mind that any surface in the work area that can be altered or handled by employees could result in a safety hazard. Training will help ensure against such hazards.
Both workers and supervisors should be trained in the importance of housekeeping and be knowledgeable about the inspection, operation, and maintenance requirements of the work surfaces in their facility.
In tomorrow’s Advisor, we’ll review some tips for preventing slip-and-fall accidents, and a tool that can help safeguard your workers—and your bottom line—from these usually preventable mishaps.