Controlling And Preventing Slip, Trip And Fall Hazards

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Risk

topics

Technical Risk M anagem ent

W h e r e s t a n d a r d s o l u t i o n s a r e t h e e x c e p t i o n

Controlling And Preventing Slip,

Trip And Fall Hazards

The majority of slip, trip

and fall accidents are

preventable.

Introduction

This document is intended to identify and offer controls in preventing slip, trip and fall accidents. The majority of these acci-dents are preventable. A safe environment requires management commitment and staff education.

The contents are drawn from past experi-ences and proven methods.

Topics include: • Management Commitment • Hazard Control • Accident Reporting • Record Keeping Management Commitment

Management should work with their em-ployees to develop policies directed at eliminating risk areas for slip, trip and fall. Employees must be aware that preventing accidents is a high priority with manage-ment.

Ultimately, it is management's responsi-bility to have written policies and ensure that they are followed.

Hazard Control

A. IDENTIFYING HAZARDOUS AREAS

People fall because the body is suddenly put in an uncontrolled and unstable con-dition. Friction is required to stay on one's feet. On a frictionless surface, it would be impossible to walk. Consider walking on fresh ice with leather soled shoes. Usually when you take a step on a floor, you expect a certain amount of re-sistance. When water, oil, ice or food scraps are spilled on the surface, the resis-tance concept changes. Projections on the sole of the shoe normally interlock with the floor surface. Spilled materials fill the interlock and keeps one surface away from the other.

People fall

because the

body is

suddenly

put in an

uncontrolled

and unstable

condition

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Even where spillage or contaminants are inevitable the lesson is that it is never too soon to clean them up; the longer they stay, the greater the risk.

Floor coverings are usually a compromise between a non-slip surface and an attrac-tive, easily cleaned surface with little fric-tion capabilities. The smoother the sur-face, the more attention required through inspection and cleaning.

Slip, trip and fall accidents frequently oc-cur in the following areas:

• parking curbs/parking lots

• produce counters

• food preparations

• automatic swinging doors

• large glass panels and glass doors

• display racks, high storage areas, tem-porary displays

• hazardous products (i.e.. oils in glass containers)

• shopping cart drop-off or storage areas

• landings and staircases

• escalator entry/exits

• loose mats or wet flooring (recently mopped)

The premises should be assessed for areas which may pose a risk for slip, trip and fall accidents. Problem areas with actions that will eliminate risks. A housekeeping plan should be established and areas of respon-sibility designated. These areas should be monitored on an ongoing basis.

B. MINIMIZING THE CHANCE OF ACCIDENTS

Some actions that help eliminate the pos-sibility of slip, trip and fall include:

• mark or guard wet areas

• clean and monitor areas around pro-duce racks frequently

• use rubber-backed floor mats in en-tranceways and problem areas

• inspect and maintain automatic doors: ensure "in and out" traffic flow is marked and controlled with barriers

• discourage high-piled freestanding displays

• store heavy items and hazardous prod-ucts on lower shelves

• mark "employee only" areas with signs to discourage entry by customers

• ensure landings and staircases are well illuminated

• do not allow displaying stock on wood pallets on the floor

• maintain parking lots in good repair

• remove snow and ice from surfaces as soon as possible

What could

appear to be

a minor

accident at

the time may

have serious

repercussions

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Accident Reporting

What could appear to be a minor accident at the time may have serious repercussions later. A tremendous amount of energy is generated in a fall through only two or three feet of space, more than enough to cause a serious or fatal injury. Therefore, every accident should be treated as poten-tially serious. A report should be filled at the time of the accident because it is diffi-cult to remember details at a later time. Management should investigate or review every accident.

In the event of an accident:

• comfort the victim

• eliminate the hazardous situation im-mediately

• do not attempt to administer 1st aid, if the situation warrants, call for medi-cal assistance

• take photographs of the incident area

• conduct a comprehensive report de-tailing the time and location of the in-cident, weather conditions, informa-tion regarding the victim and any statements from witnesses; determine potential mitigating circumstances, such as whether or not the victim ap-peared to be under the influence of al-cohol, drugs or medication, had poor vision, or was running or carrying ob-jects to obscure vision and note type and condition of footwear at the time the incident occurred

A report

should be

filled at

the time

of the

accident

because it

is difficult

to

remember

details at a

later time

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ACCIDENT REPORT

DATE: ___________________________ TIME: ____________________________ VICTIM

NAME: __________________________ ADDRESS: ________________________ CITY: ___________________________ PROVINCE: _______________________ POSTAL CODE: __________________ PHONE: __________________________ OCCUPANTION: _________________

CHIEF COMPLAINT OF VICTIM: ________________________________________ INCIDENT

VICTIM’S DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT: __________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________ SIGNED ___________________________ WITNESS (1) WITNESS (2) NAME: ___________________________ NAME: ____________________________ ADDRESS: ________________________ ADDRESS: _________________________ PHONE: __________________________ PHONE: __________________________ RELATIONSHIP: ___________________ RELATIONSHIP: ___________________ NAME OF REPORTER ______________ ID ________________________________ REPORT RECEIVED BY:__________________________________________________ DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT AREA: ______________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ PHOTO/VIDEO OF SCENE: YES NO

________________________________________________________________________ MANAGEMENT REPORT: ________________________________________________

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Record Keeping

• A good set of records reflects a highly responsible management and provides proof of their commitment to safety.

• Accident reports should be maintained in a binder.

• copies of the most recent housekeep-ing/inspection/repair schedule should be kept with the accident report

• an accident register should be kept for quick reference so problem areas can be identified and corrected early

• annual or semi-annual audits by man-agement or designated employee is rec-ommended

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