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SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST
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SAFETY BULLETIN / January - March 2006 |
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Download a .pdf copy of this bulletin
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Slips, Trips and Falls - by Kristi VanSoest, Safety Specialist
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Did you know that
slips, trips, and falls are only second to
automobile accidents in causing personal injury?
On stairways alone, falls result in almost two
million disabling injuries yearly. There are
thousands more minor injuries caused by slips,
trips, and falls each year. Most alarming of all
is the fact that industrial falls cause over
1000 deaths each year.
Statistics show that the majority (60 percent)
of falls happen as a result of slips and trips.
The remaining 40 percent are falls from heights.
Slips occur when there is too little friction
between a person’s feet and the walking surface.
Many factors can cause a slip. Ice, oil, water,
cleaning fluids, and other slippery substances
are probably the most obvious causes. However,
the cause may be the flooring or not wearing the
proper shoes. To prevent slips, avoid walking in
areas which pose slipping hazards if at all
possible. Always clean up spills immediately,
and try preventing the spills in the first
place. If an area is a chronic problem, try to
re-route walking paths. Keep floors in good
shape and always follow your company’s safety
shoe policy.
Trips occur when a person’s foot contacts an
object and they are thrown off balance. The main
cause of tripping is obviously when something is
in a walkway and it causes someone to trip.
Material or objects stored low on shelving,
sticking out into an aisle way, is another
precursor to trips. Poor lighting and uneven
walking surfaces will also cause tripping. To
prevent trips, keep objects out of the way of
walking, and make sure floors are in good shape
and lighting is adequate.
Falls are usually the result of slips and trips.
Falls also occur without slipping and/or
tripping. Falls can occur due to improper use of
ladders and scaffolding. Falls happen when
people don’t use proper fall protection
equipment. Falls are the most serious in terms
of slips, trips, and falls. Don’t take shortcuts
when climbing, and always use fall protection
when required.
Slips, trips, and falls cause numerous injuries
each day. They are, however, among the easiest
hazards to correct. Always inspect your work
area daily for possible hazards and ways to
prevent them. Always remember these eight
things: don’t be in a hurry, pay attention to
your step, clean up spills, practice walking
safely, use safety shoes, maintain proper
lighting, exercise stair safety, and inspect
your ladder. When you remember these simple
things, you tremendously reduce your chances of
slips, trips, and falls. |
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Please Note: the Safety
Bulletin is a complimentary quarterly newsletter
updating you on the latest news, trends, and
information. The contents of this newsletter do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of Safety
Resources, Inc. Safety Resources, Inc. makes no
warranties, either expressed or implied, about
the truth or accuracy of the content of the
newsletter. Issues may be forwarded in their
entirety via e-mail. If you would like to be
added to the subscribers list, please contact
us.
If you have a topic related to occupational
safety that you would like to see in the
newsletter please contact us. |
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