Falls Occurring from the Same Level

Volume XIII Issue 6

A five-minute training Series for Pest Management Professionals.

Falls Occurring from the Same Level Same-level falls literally means falls that occur on a dry, flat surface. There are other kinds of falls, like, falls from an elevation; falls in a parking lot; or falls resulting from ice or snow. Our focus here is on the simple act of falling on a flat walking surface.

Same-level falls can result in injuries, including strains and bruises to fractures and closed head injuries. Injuries to the back, head, and wrists/hands are most common. Wrist and hand injuries result from attempting to “catch” yourself or break your fall.

A same-level fall is typically the result of an individual’s at-risk behavior while walking. That is, for whatever reason, an employee does not focus on where they are walking, or are unable to see their pathway to avoid otherwise unsafe conditions.

Examples of at-risk behaviors that lead to falls include:

Not watching where you are walking. Walking backwards. Wearing improper footwear for the conditions. Carrying an object that obstructs your view of the pathway. Walking through wet or slippery floors instead of going around. Being a distracted walker, not paying attention to your surroundings. Taking shortcuts by stepping over obstructions in your pathway. Running or hurrying through a building. Believe it or not, same-level falls alone account for 33% of all your slip, trip, and fall injuries and are first in quantity (frequency) and second in degree of injury (severity). Same-level fall exposures are far and away the most prevalent type of slip, trip, and fall injuries experienced in pest and lawn service.

There are several simple things you can do right now to minimize your exposure to same-level fall injuries.

Always focus on where you walk. Conditions can change rapidly. Watching where you are stepping will allow you to observe hazardous conditions. Do not carry items that block your view of the pathway. Use a cart or take additional trips. Avoid other simultaneous activities like reading, talking on the phone or texting, that distract you while walking. Plan your time to avoid running or hurrying through the job. Wear appropriate footwear for the job and the season. Choose a safe path. Take the time to walk around an unsafe condition instead of through it. Help others. If you see a hazard that you can fix, fix it. Otherwise, report observed unsafe conditions. Communicate. If you observe someone placing themselves at-risk of a same-level fall, let them know.

The information contained in this document was obtained from sources that to the best of the writer’s knowledge are authentic and reliable. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. makes no guarantee of results, and assumes no liability in connection with either the information herein contained, or the safety suggestions herein made. Moreover, it cannot be assumed that every acceptable safety procedure is contained herein, or that abnormal or unusual circumstances may not warrant or require further or additional procedures.