Slip, Trip Fall Prevention

SAFETY BULLETIN No: 240 Effective 12/17/02 Slip, Trip Fall Prevention

Some Slip, Trip and Fall Facts

At Work 136 Metro-North Employees were injured in slip, trip, fall accidents in 2001. They lost over 6,301 workdays!

At Home The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that falls caused or led to 17,100 deaths in America last year. Of those, 9,600 occurred in homes. While all age groups are vulnerable, eight out of 10 of those dying as a result of a fall are over age 65. Falls are the number one cause of injury-related death for males 80 and older and for females 75 and older.

Tips for Walking on Slippery Surfaces

1. Walk in designated walkways as much as possible. Taking shortcuts over snow piles and areas where snow and ice removal is not feasible can be hazardous. Look ahead when you walk. 2. Clean and sand or salt slippery walking surfaces. 3. When you must walk on icy surfaces, take short steps or shuffle for stability; bend slightly, walk flat-footed with your center of gravity directly over your feet as much as possible. Turn gradually. Sharp turns can cause loss of balance. 4. Keep both hands free for balance, not in your pockets. 5. Wear shoes or boots that provide traction on snow and ice: rubber and neoprene composite. Avoid plastic and leather soles. 6. Use special care when entering and exiting vehicles; use the vehicle for support. 7. Be prepared to fall. If you fall, try to twist and roll backward, rather than falling forward. Roll onto the soft tissues of your buttocks, thigh and large back muscles to protect the back of your head and your spine.

Metro-North Railroad Safety Dept. 8. Finally, when entering buildings, remove snow and water from footwear to prevent creating slippery conditions indoors. Stair Smarts

1. Use handrails from start to finish 2. Avoid carrying loads on stairs. Carry only loads you can see over. 3. Watch where you are going and descend slowly. 4. Test slippery stairs by tapping them with your foot. 5. When descending, keep weight on your back foot until your front foot is safely on the next step.

The “Three Point Rule”

1. When ascending or descending the ladders of equipment, machinery or vehicles always maintain three point contact keeping one hand and two feet or two hands and one foot on the ladder or ground. A SUPERVISOR’S CHECKLIST TO PREVENT SLIP, TRIP AND FALL INJURIES

VISIBILITY:  Are halls, stairways and walkways well lit?  Are well-designed light switches handy for walkways that are not always lighted?  Does dust, smoke or steam create poor visibility?  Does glare from floodlights or windows create poor visibility in work areas?

STAIRS:  Are handrails tight and at the proper level?  Do handrails extend past the top and bottom step?  Are white or yellow strips painted on the first and last step for better visibility?  Are any steps very rough or defective?  Are stair treads wide enough and are risers consistently spaced?  Are materials stored on stairs, obstructing a clear passage?

FLOOR CONDITIONS:  Are floor surfaces wet, oily, or highly waxed and polished?  Is a good absorbent material available for spills, and handy to use?  Are floor surfaces finished with non-slip coatings where spills are likely?  Are floor areas very rough, or do floors have holes and depressions?  Do carpets or rugs have loose or frayed edges that may catch boots or shoes?  Are aisles or pathways wide enough for easy passage and for carrying objects?  Are ramps covered with non-slip surfaces or matting?  Are walkways free from extension cords, air hoses and cables?  Do boxes, containers, machine parts or other tripping hazards lie in pathways?

GROUND CONDITIONS:  Do tripping hazards exist, such as overlapping gratings or bent plating?  Do fall hazards exist, such as uncovered drains or manholes?

Metro-North Railroad Safety Dept.  Are holes or changes in ground elevation either filled or guarded?  Are muddy walkways filled with gravel to reduce slipping?  Are tools or materials left lying on the ground instead of properly stored?  Are sand, salt or other material available to treat icy walking surfaces?

EQUIPMENT:  Are vehicle steps of adequate size, surface and placement for safe dismounting?  Are handgrips or ladders adequate for getting in and out of equipment?  Have all ladders been checked for damage, and removed from service if they are unsafe?  Is slip-resistant footwear worn by all employees who work in wet or greasy conditions?  Are studded or shoe pullovers furnished to employees who work where walking surfaces are icy?

SAFE WALKING & WORKING PRACTICES:  Do workers use the Three-Point-Rule when getting in or out of vehicles and equipment?  Do workers always step, rather than jump, off of vehicles, docks and platforms?  Do workers use handrails from start to finish on stairways?  Do workers know how to avoid slipping and falling, and how to avoid injury if they do fall?  Are deliberate, risky, jumping or climbing acts disciplined, to discourage such activity?

Ideas for Posting

“If you drop it, pick it up!” “Go where you’re looking and look where you’re going.” “Don’t jump, STEP!” “If you spill it, wipe it up!”

Stay Safe and Injury Free

Metro-North Railroad Safety Dept.