Slips, Trips, and Falls
Healthcare Workers
Session Objectives
You will be able to:
• Recognize slips, trips, and falls as a serious
safety problem
• Identify slip, trip, and fall hazards on the job
• Avoid and eliminate trip and slip hazards
• Use stairs and ladders safely to avoid falls
• Minimize injuries if you do fall
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What You Need to Know
• Frequency and types of slip, trip, and fall
injuries
• Common causes of slips, trips, and falls
• How to prevent trips and slips
• How to prevent falls from stairs and on
ladders
• What to do if you fall
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Injury Statistics
• There are over 265,000 nonfatal injuries
from slips, trips, and falls
• Slips, trips, and falls result in 17% of all
nonfatal workplace injuries per year
• More than 750 workers die each year in
workplace falls
• Patients and visitors can also become
statistics
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Types of Injuries
• Back or spine injuries
• Head injuries
• Muscle strains
• Sprains and torn
ligaments
• Broken bones
• Even death
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Common Causes of Slips,
Trips, and Falls
• Messy work areas
• Inadequate lighting
• Not watching where
you’re going
• Running or walking too
fast
• Spills and wet floors
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Common Causes of Slips,
Trips, and Falls (cont.)
• Clutter
• Open drawers
• Flooring problems
• Failure to use
handrails going up or
down stairs
• Lack of caution on
ladders
• Wearing inappropriate
shoes
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Eliminate Trip Hazards
• Put things away after use
• Pick up items you see on the floor
• Step over or around obstructions
• Walk slowly and change directions slowly,
especially when carrying a load
• Watch for changes in floor levels
• Report lighting problems
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Eliminate Trip Hazards (cont.)
• Don’t leave boxes, bags, tools, or other
materials on the floor
• Don’t block walkways with carts,
wheelchairs, or other equipment
• Don’t leave cords or power cables in
walkways
• Don’t place anything on stairs
• Don’t leave drawers open
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Watch Out for Slip Hazards
• Clean up spills, drips, and leaks immediately
• Put up signs or barriers to warn about wet
floors
• Put down mats on wet days
• Wear shoes with nonskid soles
• Walk slowly and slide your feet on wet,
slippery surfaces
• Report icy spots outside
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Keep Alert and Use
Common Sense
• Be aware of the
•
•
•
•
hazards
Pay attention to where
you are going
Adjust your stride
according to the
walking surface
Make wide turns at
corners
Don’t block your vision
when carrying items
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Slip and Trip Hazards
• Do you understand the
information presented
so far?
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Be Careful on Stairs
• Use handrails
• Walk—don’t run
• Inspect for slippery
surfaces or damaged
steps
• Do not put objects on
steps
• Be especially careful
when carrying a load
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Choose the Right Ladder
for the Job
• Step stool
• Stepladder
• Straight ladder
• Extension ladder
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Ladder ‘Don’ts’
• Don’t stand on the top
two steps of a
stepladder or the top
three rungs of a straight
or extension ladder
• Don’t place a ladder on
boxes or barrels to gain
height
• Don’t join two short
ladders together to form
a longer ladder
• Don’t use a box or chair
in place of a ladder
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Set Up Ladders Correctly
• Place ladders on a firm, level surface
• Take precautions when setting up in front of
a door
• Make sure stepladder braces are fully
extended
• Position straight and extension ladders
properly (4 to 1 rule)
• Watch where you lean ladders
• Secure ladders top and bottom
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Climb and Descend Safely
• Wear proper shoes
• Allow only one person
on the ladder at a time
• Face the ladder when
climbing and
descending, and hold
onto rails with both
hands
• Carry tools so hands
are free
• Hoist up materials
once you’re up
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Climb and Descend Safely
(cont.)
• Keep one hand on the ladder while you
work
• Keep your body centered
• Don’t overreach
• Move slowly and cautiously
• Never slide down a ladder
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Inspect Ladders Before
Each Use
Be sure to check:
• Joints
• Hardware and fittings
• Moveable parts
• Ropes
• Safety feet and locks
• Rungs and steps
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Stair and Ladder Hazards
• Do you understand the
information presented
in the previous slides?
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What to Do If You’re Falling
• Bend elbows and knees to absorb shock
• Roll with the fall
• Tuck your head
• Use hands and forearms to break the fall
• Yell or exhale as you fall
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What to Do If You’re Injured
• Report the incident to
your supervisor
• Get medical attention
• Follow doctor’s orders
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Key Points to Remember
• Keep walkways clean and clear
• Clean up spills promptly and pick up trip
hazards from the floor
• Make sure stairs and ladders are safe and
use them carefully
• Walk slowly, watch where you’re going, and
wear proper shoes
• Don’t carry loads that block your vision
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609