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Slips, Trips and Falls – Ladder Safety
OSHA Region V Emphasis Program
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Fall Hazards in Construction and
General Industry
 Effective April 1, 2013
 Focus on the safe use of portable
and fixed ladders
 Evaluate number of fall-related
injuries

Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention
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Hazards and Exposure
 The ‘Law of Opportunity’

Objectives
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1.
2.
3.
Identify the importance of
preventing slip, trip and fall hazards
Evaluate the best and safest way to
complete the job
Identify safe work practices to avoid
slips, trips and falls
A Fall Occurs…
‘It’s not the fall that’s
hurts but the sudden
stop at the end’
The free fall velocity at
impact when falling 12
feet is nearly 20 mph
A person will hit the
ground in just under
one second after falling
this distance
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Stay Clear of Falling Objects
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Avoid working under or
near hazards or process
 Do not allow others
below your work area
 If you are not directly
involved, stay clear

The Enemies
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Rushing
Distraction
‘Multi-tasking’
Precipitation or spills
At-risk behaviors

Housekeeping?
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Winter and Wet Weather
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

Salt and sand
Use ice gripper slip-ons ‘yak tracks’
 http://yaktrax.com/

Walk like a penguin or shuffle on ice
 Keep

your knees and elbows ‘soft’
Be aware of glare ice conditions
General Floor Surfaces: #1
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Use of floor surface degreasers, i.e.
‘Y-slip’
http://www.canmill.com/antislip.htm
 Keep rugs and mats flat and secured
at the corners
 Objects on the floor (i.e. paperclips)
 Loose carpeting

Focus
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Concentrate on what you’re
doing, to avoid ‘distracted
walking’
 Identify pedestrian walkways
 ‘Three points of balance’,
keeping one hand free when
possible when walking, for
support

What to Do in a Fall
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Avoid initially helping someone up
by offering your hand – they may
have experienced a head, neck or
back injury.
 How to get up on your own after
a fall, first ‘taking stock’

Carrying Items
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Use carts or other means for when
carrying items
 Be aware of steps and stairs –
especially non-commercial or ‘home
made’
Throwing off your internal tape
measure

Line of Sight
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
Keep adequate lines of sight in
terms of seeing over what you
might be carrying, and also,
around corners or vehicles
Lighting
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Provide adequate illumination
and lighting
 Keep and use flashlights – don’t
let your toes lead the way in the
dark!

Ladder Safety
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Pick the Right Ladder
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Before stepping onto a ladder, think about these
things:
 Duty rating of the ladder—what capacity can it
hold?
 Height of the ladder—too short or too tall?
 Condition of the ladder and instructions unique to
the ladder selected.
Ladder Angle
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Portable Rung and Cleat Ladders
Use at angle where the horizontal
distance from the top support to
the foot of the ladder is ¼ the
working length of the ladder
(length along ladder between the
foot and top support).
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Avoid Placing Ladders Near Electrical Lines
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Choose and Position the Correct Ladder – or
Find Another Way to Access the Work Area
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Damaged or Defective Ladders
Inspect ladders for visible
defects, like broken or missing
rungs
If a defective ladder is found,
immediately mark it defective
or tag it "Do Not Use”
Withdraw defective ladders
from service until repaired
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Missing rung
Climbing the Ladder
Face the ladder when
going up or down
Use at least one hand to
grab the ladder when
going up or down –
Maintain 3 points of
contact at all times!
Do not carry any object or
load that could cause you
to lose balance
The ‘Belly Button Rule’
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Proper Condition and Instructions
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

Inspect the ladder for visible defects
 Never use a ladder that is broken or otherwise
damaged
 Remove damaged ladders from service and tag
them as damaged
Review the safety labels on the ladder
 Always comply with the warnings and instructions
Determine Proper Ladder Set-up
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Consider placement and pitch
 Secure and stabilize the ladder

Placement Tips
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Avoid setting up
a ladder in high
traffic or
barricaded
areas
 Do not use metal
or aluminum
ladders near
electrical lines

Secure and Stabilize Ladders
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Slippery Surfaces
Never use a ladder on a slippery surface, unless it is
secured to prevent movement.
 Wet
or slippery surfaces may require a cleat.
 Ladder feet should dig into the ground, and the ladder
should be secured at the bottom to prevent
movement/slipping.
Firm Base
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Secure and Stabilize Ladders
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Uneven Surface
When the surface
is not level, use a
ladder leveler
(accessory) to
provide even
contact points
Maintain a Safe Position on Ladders
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


Do not overreach when
working from the
ladder
Do not stand on the
top two rungs of a
stepladder
Do not allow another
person on a ladder at
any given time, unless
you are using a
double-cleated ladder
that is intended for
two-way traffic
Now It’s Your Turn – Identify the Hazards
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Thank You!
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