Presents:
Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls
in the Workplace
It’s the sudden stop that hurts!
Dan Paul,
Sr. Loss Prevention
Consultant
1
Slip, Trip and Fall Accident Facts



Slips, trips and falls account for 15-20% of all
workers’ compensation costs.
Slips, trips and falls account for nearly 25% of
all serious disabling work injuries.
The average direct cost of one disabling slip, trip
and fall injury approaches $10,000.
(Conservative estimates are that indirect costs
may be as much as four times this amount)
2
Slip, Trip and Fall Accident Facts




Most injuries are sprains and strains
The back is the most frequently injured part of
the body.
Type of fall
% Male % Female
Same Level Falls
59%
41%
Falls From Elevation 79%
21%
3
Significance of Falls

In 1998, falls accounted for:




16,274 deaths
37% of fatalities
16% of all work–related injuries in the United States
11% of all low back pain claims and 12% of all low
back pain costs were from same level slips & falls.
4
Significance of Slips & Falls

Workers’ Comp Claims






Manual Material Handling
Slips & Falls – Same Level
Slips & Falls – Elevation
Struck By/Against
Repetitive Trauma
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Cost
Frequency
34.8%
13.4%
10.0%
8.8%
7.3%
6.2%
36.7%
11.5%
5.0%
16.7%
4.5%
1.9%
From Liberty Mutual Research Center for Safety & Health
5
Same Level Falls

Types of same levels falls include:




Slips and fall
Trips and fall
Step and fall
These type of falls occur during:



Routine walking
Walking on wet or slippery
surfaces
Material Handling
6
Same Level Falls




Same level falls are the most frequent to occur.
The injuries and costs associated with these
incidents are not as great as for elevated falls.
Parking lots account for 15% of all same level
falls.
60% of these falls are the result of walking on
snow & ice.
7
Same Level Falls

Same level falls are commonly caused by:








Walking to fast or running
Rapid changes in direction
Wet or slippery conditions
Not watching where we are going
Inadequate housekeeping
Carrying objects which obstruct our vision
Inadequate lighting
Failure to use handrails
8
Same Level Falls

Common same level falls while working
“outdoors” include:





Falls
Falls
Falls
Falls
Falls
while walking to and from buildings
while working on uneven surfaces
while carrying freight
while fueling vehicles and equipment
during times of inclement weather
9
Slip & Fall


Slips and falls are primarily caused by a loss in
the traction between the shoe and the walking
surface. The center of gravity is thrown out of
balance resulting in a fall.
Slips and falls occur when:


The front foot slips forward
The rear foot slips backward
This is often compounded by wearing the wrong
footwear.
10
Slip and Fall



Micro slips – Are less than 3 centimeters in
length. Occur frequently when we walk and
usually go undetected.
Slip – Are from 3-10 centimeters in length. We
are aware of the slip and instinctively take
corrective action.
Slide – Are greater that 10 centimeters in length.
Caused by uncontrolled forward, backward or
sideways movement and leads to falls.
11
Coefficient of Friction


Coefficient of Friction (COF) is the amount of
traction present between the footwear and the
walking surface.
A COF of .40 to .50 is needed for good traction.


A brushed concrete floor and a rubber sole will often
have a COF greater than 1.0
A smooth surface such as ice and a leather sole may
have a COF as low as .10.
12
Trip & Fall

Trips and falls occur when the front foot strikes
an object and suddenly stops. The upper body
is thrown forward and a fall occurs.

As little as 3/8” rise in a walkway can cause a person
to “stub” their toe resulting in a trip and fall.
13
Step & Fall


Step and falls occur when the front foot lands on
a surface that is lower than expected. This
causes the body to be thrown forward, often
resulting in a fall.
They also occur when we step forward or down,
and the side of the foot lands on an object
higher than the other side. The ankle turns and
we fall forward or sideways.
14
Routine Walking


Slips and falls during routine walking
occur when there is a loss in the traction
between the shoe and the walking
surface.
The primary key to preventing slips and
falls during routine walking is to:



Wear appropriate footwear
Observe the walking surface
Identify potential hazards such as
holes, rocks, ice, water, etc. and walk
around them whenever possible.
15
Slippery Surfaces

When surfaces such as mud, snow, ice, water,
oil, etc. are present:

The COF is greatly reduced
The likelihood of slips and falls is greatly increased,
particularly on stairs, ramps, slopes, parking lots and
steel.
Tripping hazards may not be visible

Ground imperfections can be hidden


16
Snow and Ice

Do not take flat surfaces for granted:


Accident studies indicate that almost 80% of slips and
falls due to snow and ice occur in parking lots or
sidewalks.
Be aware of your surroundings



Sloped surfaces
Roof drains
North side of buildings
17
Material Handling


Employees who perform manual material
handling tasks are exposed to not only back
strains and sprains, but also slips, trips and falls.
Slips, trips and falls can occur when:



The freight being carried is so large it blocks your
view
There is not a clear pathway to be traveled
The walking surface is slippery or uneven
18
Material Handling

Falls associated with material handling include:





Falls on slick surfaces
Falls from equipment
Falls from ladders
Falls from docks and elevated
work platforms
Falls on stairs
19
Material Handling



Use a hand cart or other mechanical device
whenever possible.
Carefully observe walking surfaces to identify
any holes, raised elevations, sloping surfaces or
slippery surfaces that may be present.
Do not carry loads that block your vision.
20
Material Handling


When using a cart to move material on ramps,
push the cart up the ramp, and back the cart
down the ramp. (It is more difficult to control a
heavy load going down a ramp when you are
above the load than when you are below the
load)
Take small steps rather than large ones,
especially when working on slippery surfaces.
21
Same Level Falls - Prevention

Wear proper footwear

Evaluate your path

Look for obstacles such as rocks, holes, oil, water,
cords or other debris

Avoid walking to fast or running

Don’t carry objects that block your view

Use hand rails when they are available
22
Elevated Falls

Elevated falls do not occur as frequently as
same level falls. The resulting injuries and costs
are however, usually greater.
23
Elevated Falls

Common elevated falls in the workplace include:




Falls
Falls
Falls
Falls
from vehicles and equipment
from ladders
from docks and elevated work platforms
on stairs
24
Falls From Equipment

Accidents happen in four major ways. These
include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Jumping from the equipment.
Losing balance when climbing onto or off of the
equipment.
Slipping as weight is transferred when climbing onto
or off of the equipment.
Packing or carrying items while climbing onto or off of
the equipment.
25
Entering & Exiting Equipment

When entering or exiting equipment you should:




Make sure the climbing and landing surfaces are not
slippery or rough due to snow, ice, oil, potholes,
rocks, etc.
Get a firm grip with your hand before stepping up
(Not just your fingertips)
Always face the vehicle (Climb out in the same
manner you entered)
Use the Three-Point System
26
Three-Point System

The Three-Point System ensures that:



Three limbs are in contact with the vehicle or
equipment at all times.
 One hand and two feet, or
 Two hands and one foot
Allows for maximum stability and support
Should be used when climbing onto or off of any
piece of equipment.
27
Falls From Ladders

Falls from ladders can usually be attributed to
one of the following:







Improper ladder placement
Failure to secure the ladder
Carrying materials
Missing or damaged rungs
Uneven ground or slippery surfaces
Reaching too far
Standing on the top rung
28
Falls From Ladders

Prior to using a ladder you should:




Inspect the ladder for cracks or loose rungs.
Ensure that feet are equipped with slip-resistant pads.
Set the base of the ladder firmly so that it cannot slip
or settle into soft ground. (Straight ladders should be
secured to the object supporting them)
Set straight ladders at, or as near as, a 4:1 angle as
possible.
29
Falls From Ladders

When using a ladder you should:



Climb with both hands on the ladder. (Do not climb
with objects in your hand)
Never stand on the top three rungs of a straight
ladder or the top two steps of a step-ladder.
Always face the ladder when climbing or descending.
30
Falls From Docks & Elevated Work
Platforms

Common dock and elevated work platform
hazards include:




Slips and falls caused by wet or oily surfaces
Falls from dock or platform edges
Falls caused by unsecured dock plates
When working on docks and elevated work
platforms, be aware of not only what you are
doing, but what others around you are doing as
well.
31
Falls From Docks & Elevated work
Platforms

When working on loading docks, you should:






Walk, do not run
Stay away from dock or platform edges
Be aware of others working in the area
Secure moveable dock plates
Not jump onto or off of the dock or
platform
Not indulge in horseplay
32
Falls on Stairs

Falls on stairs are usually associated with:






Missing or defective handrails
Defective treads and risers
Inappropriate tread width and riser height
Debris or liquid on treads
Carrying materials while ascending
or descending the stairs
Not using the handrail
33
Falls on Stairs

When using stairs:





Use the handrail for support whenever possible.
Never run up or down the stairs.
Don’t carry materials that block your view.
Don’t jump from stairs.
Avoid carrying heavy or bulky items that require the
use of both hands, whenever possible.
34
Footwear

Wear proper footwear. This means slip-resistant
soles.





Select shoes to fit the surface on which you are
walking.
The harder and smoother the bottom of the shoe, the
more slippery it is.
Leather soles tend to be very slippery
Soft rubber soles generally provide better traction.
When selecting work shoes,
examine the coefficient of friction
(COF) rating.
35
Review

Slips, trips and falls account for 10-12% of all
workers’ compensation costs?


True
False
False: 15-20% of all workers’ compensation costs
are related to slips, trips and falls.
36
Review

Which body part is the most commonly injured
due to slips, trips and falls?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Shoulder
Knee
Head
None of the above
D. None of the above – The back is the most
commonly injured.
37
Review

Elevated falls are the most frequent to occur?


True
False
False: Same level falls are the most frequent to
occur.
38
Review

When handling freight, slips, trips and falls can
occur when:
A. The freight being carried blocks your view
B. There is not a clear path to be traveled
C. The walking surface is slick or uneven
D. All of the above
D - All of the above
39
Review

Elevated falls do not occur as frequently as same
level falls but the resulting injuries are usually
more severe.


True
False
True – Fall from height injuries can lead to
permanent disability or even death.
40
Review

The Three-Point Rule should only be used during
time of inclement weather?


True
False
False – The Three-Point Rule should be used
whenever you enter or exit equipment or
vehicles.
41
Review

Falls from ladders are commonly the result of:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Improper ladder placement
Reaching too far
Carrying materials
All of the above
D. All of the above
42
Review

When using stairs you should:
A. Use the handrail for support whenever possible
B. Never run up or down the stairs
C. Carry materials that block you view
D. All of the above
A and B – Use the handrail whenever possible
and never run up or down the stairs
43
Review

Which of the following is false?
A. The harder and smoother the bottom of the shoe,
the more slippery it is.
B. Leather soles tend to provide good traction
C. Soft rubber soles tend to provide the best traction
D. All of the above
B – Leather soles tend to be very slippery.
44
Review

To reduce the chance of same level slips, trips
and falls you should:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Inspect the walking surface
Select proper footwear
Walk with your hands in your pockets
Maintain a clean work environment
A, B & D – Walking with your hands in your
pockets increases the likelihood of slips, trips
and falls.
45
Thank You . . .
Your participation has
made this workshop a
Great Success!
46