Slips, Trips and Falls - Safety in the Work-Place

Tool Box Talk: TBT 04: Slips, Trips, Falls PRESENTERS’ NOTES

SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS - SAFETY IN THE WORK-PLACE

AIMS: The aims of this presentation are to (1) raise the participants’ awareness of slips, trips, falls hazards by (2) encouraging participants to risk-assess their own workplaces by identifying possible slip, trip and fall hazards, also (3) how to reduce the risk of slips, trip and falls.

OBJECTIVES: at the end of this presentation the participants will (1) know and understand the main causes of slips, trips and falls risks in the work-place; (2) know and understand what can be done to reduce / prevent slips, trips and falls.

HAVE TO HAND INFORMATION REGARDING HILLS’ CLEANING PROCEDURES / POLICY REGARDING FLOORING / PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS AND AFTER EACH SLIDE / PAGE ASK FOR QUESTIONS / QUERIES / COMMENTS IF APPROPRIATE, FEED THESE BACK TO H&S MANAGER

1 INTRODUCTION – IMPORTANCE OF SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS:

1. 1/3 Major injuries at work 2. 20% cause of over 3 days off work 3. Can cause long-term effects 4. Employer costs > £500,000,000 pa 5. NHS costs > £130,000,000 pa

Find out what the participants know about the dangers of slips, trips and falls. There is sometimes a tendency to trivialise the hazards, risks and outcomes.

1 of 6 Reference

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11.09.2012 Go through the statistics. Slips, trips and falls cause bruising, sprains, strains, tendon rupture, bone fracture, clothing damage, dropped objects damage.

Once tissues are injured, recovery may be very slow and some damage may cause long-tem or permanent incapacity i.e. chronic pain and disability.

2. SLIP AND TRIP HAZARDS DUE TO:

1. Flooring / outdoors 2. Cleaning 3. Footwear 4. Environment 5. People 7. Contamination 8. Obstacles

Before showing the page, ask the participants to name what they think are the main causes of slips, trips and falls, particularly in their own work areas. Then run through this list – each item is examined in detail on subsequent pages.

3 FLOORING:

1. Surface “fit for purpose” 2. Surface roughness sufficient if wet 3. Holes / damage / uneven = trip 4. Hand rails / stairways 5. Outdoors under foot – sites &: • Roadway, footpath, alleys, verges • Top of landfill • Compost site

1. Find out what areas they know that have particularly rough surfaces to reduce the risk of slipping (e.g. shower room).

2. Workshop, “dirty” offices, “clean” offices, canteen, restaurant, showers, toilets / washrooms all have different flooring needs. The architect must choose a suitable flooring material.

3. Flooring damage or unevenness = trip hazard.

4. Grab handles, balustrade, banister, railings – to help the balance in problem area and segregate pedestrians from the workarea.

5. Outside: roadways, footpaths, alleys, verges, landfill, compost site, soft ground – all present particular hazards and risks. Tool Box Talk: TBT 04: Slips, Trips, Falls PRESENTERS’ NOTES

See if any participants have any accident or near miss they can describe to the group.

4 CLEANING: 1. Regular cleaning essential 2. Degreasers for workshops 3. EVERYONE cleans own workspace 4. Drivers & crew clean cabs (mud) 5. Slip / trip hazard when cleaning

1. It is obviously necessary to have a good cleaning regime to reduce the risk of slips due to dirt / oil / spillages on the floor. Different areas have different types and levels of contamination and the cleaning process and cleaning regime must be designed accordingly – see what examples the participants can describe. Responsibility – contract cleaner; workforce? Spills: need to know where the spill kit or absorbent granules are located. NOTE: correct disposal of oily waste.

2. Correct cleaning solutions (COSHH) appropriate for the area, floor type and application.

3. Need for good attitude and personal responsibility for own work area.

4. Emphasise the importance of keeping vehicles / mobile plant cabs clean and tidy. Keep objects (drinks containers etc) from under control pedals. Clean floor and cab steps.

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11.09.2012 5. NOTE: cleaning activities can hazardous due to wet / damp floor; slippery cleaning products; risks for high gloss floors; COSHH safety on cleaning products.

5 FOOTWEAR:

1. Fit for purpose / comfortable 2. Grip sole: tread pattern / hardness 3. Protective footwear features: 4. PPE looked after by owner

In a work area the correct sort of PPE footwear needs to be worn – this is determined by (a) the work to be undertaken, (b) the type of floor, (c) the amount of and type of contamination / dirt encountered, (d) other risks (sharps, rough ground etc).

Footwear designed for different environments and slip hazard – tread pattern and sole stickiness.

Find out what they think of the footwear provided. Tool Box Talk: TBT 04: Slips, Trips, Falls PRESENTERS’ NOTES

6 ENVIRONMENT:

1. Dim lighting / reflections off shiny floor 2. Natural light / time of year 3. The weather: rain, fog, snow, ice 4. Distracting noises 5. Distracting things happening

Find out what particular aspects of the participants’ working environment can cause slips, trips, falls hazards.

1. Lighting levels indoors – missing lamps, damaged lamps, lighting of work areas and walkways.

2. Natural light (time of year / early start / late finish problems). Outside lighting of walkways, yard / car-park.

3. Slippery surface from snow, frost, ice, fog, drizzle, rain, spray, fuel, oil, spills, waste, mud.

4. Distraction caused by vehicles and plant movements

5. Distractions caused by other people

6. Distractions caused by ringing phone or using mobile phone

7. Distractions caused by playing music through headphones.

7 PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES: 5 of 6 Reference

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11.09.2012 1. Taking care / behaviour (“see it: sort it”) 2. Hurrying / running / jumping (e.g. from cab) 3. Responsible attitude (e.g. spills) 4. Carrying large objects 5. Distraction (e.g. mobile phone/music)

1. Behaviour and attitude! From “careless, couldn’t care less” to “see it, sort it” – and everything in between.

2. Slip, trip, fall risk from carrying, hurrying, running, jumping (from cab) – discuss recommended (safe way) to get down from a high vehicle or mobile plant cab.

3. House-keeping; tidiness; cleanliness; dealing with spills; storage / putting away – all reduce risks.

4. Carrying: sacks, tools, boxes, bags – large / heavy / awkward load: different degrees of effect. Load can affect vision and balance.

5. Distractions e.g. caused by personal electronic equipment – phone, MP3 player etc.

8 CONTAMINATION:

1. Spills: water / oil / other liquid / waste 2. Rain: leaks / doorways / tracking in 3. Mud from shoes / boots / tools 4. Mud / rain on cab steps & on ladder treads Prevention: Cleaning! Flooring roughness! Footwear grip!

1. Spills – some liquids are VERY slippery (oil, soap, hydraulic fluid). Spilt waste may also be slippery, particularly food wastes and plastic film.

2. Rain water from leaks, windows, doors, footwear – acts as a lubricant on floors, steps, cab steps, ladder treads.

3. Wet mud is very slippery – can be tracked indoors on footwear.

4. Wet mud is very slippery – can be tracked onto cab steps and into cabs on footwear.

9 OBSTACLES: Tool Box Talk: TBT 04: Slips, Trips, Falls PRESENTERS’ NOTES

1. House-keeping / de-cluttering / tools 2. Adequate storage – tidiness 3. Designated safe walkways 4. Trailing wires / extension leads

Obviously pretty well anything that gets underfoot can cause a trip or a twisted ankle and a fall.

1. Some people seem to be naturally tidy…and others not! But, in the workplace EVERYONE needs to ensure that their work area is free of obstructions. And, if they see a problem, “see it – sort it”.

2. Lack of storage space can cause problems when tools and equipment have to be stored on the floor. So, if possible, put away things that are not in use – and, if there is a lack of space then at least keep things as tidy as possible and the floor, walkways and work area as clear as possible.

3. In order to segregate pedestrians, designate and mark walkways with yellow paint. Make a special effort to keep the walkways clear (they may be emergency exit routes). Use railings / concrete blocks to segregate walkways from vehicles, mobile plant and work areas.

4. Trailing wires / extension leads for power tools / equipment are a well known trip hazard. Tripping over can cause injury and if the tools / equipment are pulled over or onto the floor, can cause damage. Solution: routing of wires / special protective covers for wires crossing walkways.

10. REVISION: 7 of 6 Reference

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11.09.2012 Statistics Flooring Cleaning Footwear Environment People Contamination Obstacles

REFERENCES:

The following give abundant background reading in the area of Electrical Safety at Work, all have hotlinks to further reading. http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity.htm http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/19-3.htm http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/635/contents/made