According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), slips, trips, and falls are responsible for 15 percent of all accidents and are second only to motor vehicle accidents as a cause of fatalities. In the labor-intensive green industry, these percentages may even be higher, causing employers to take a second and third look at finding ways to minimize these types of accidents.

Preventing or minimizing slipping, tripping, and falling requires vigilance and teamwork. Working together, both employer and employees can identify potential hazards and reduce their potential for causing an accident. The following are some tips from OSHA, the National Safety Council, and other organizations concerned about safety for ways to defuse these job-site hazards. The formula is the same for each genre of accident (slips, trips, or falls). It requires first identifying a hazard and then finding ways to prevent it from causing an accident.


Slips

Slips occur when there is not enough friction between a person’s foot and the surface on which he or she is walking. Wearing improper shoes, walking too fast (hurrying), and working around a job site that is subject or prone to having a “slippery” walking surface can all contribute to slipping.

There are several ways to reduce the likelihood of accidents caused by slipping. Wearing shoes with slip-resistant soles and making an effort to keep the soles free of oil, mud, or other foreign material are good first steps. Spills of any type, even coffee spills, should be cleaned up immediately. In areas where spills are likely or pose a constant hazard, re-route foot traffic to avoid the area entirely.

When working outside, employees should be aware of weather conditions and the surface on which they are walking. Wearing sunglasses to reduce surface glare on bright days will help identify a particularly slippery surface before a slip occurs, and walking deliberately instead of running or hurrying around a job site can also help prevent a slip.


Trips

Trips occur when your foot strikes an object and your body is thrown off balance. Likely trip-causing culprits include objects that are either on, or protrude over, a walkway and people taking shortcuts or not paying attention to where they are going. Trips can also occur when there is a change in walking conditions (e.g., when there is uneven spacing between risers on stairs or when a surface is rough or uneven).

One easy way to prevent trips is to keep objects off the floor (especially away from walkways. Working in areas with poor lighting and carrying objects that impede visibility also contribute to tripping. Using handrails can help employees minimize trips on stairs. Making sure that stair treads are slip resistant, wide, and with a visible leading edge can also reduce the chance of employees tripping while descending stairs.


Falls

Falls can be the result of tripping or slipping, or falls can happen when employees perform climbing tasks without taking the proper safety precautions. One common cause of falls is the improper use of portable ladders, including stepladders, single ladders, and extension ladders. Among OSHA tips for using portable ladders are the following:

·         Always face the ladder when climbing down.

·         Be sure ladders used to gain access to a roof or other area extend at least three feet above the point of support.

·         Never use the top rung of a ladder as a step.

·         Place both hands on the sides of the ladder when climbing up or descending.

·         Make sure ladders are placed with a secure footing or lashed or held in position at the bottom.

·         Ensure that stepladders are no longer than 20 feet; single ladders never exceed 30 feet; and extension ladders are no longer than 60 feet.

·         Make sure that ladders are frequently inspected and maintained in good condition at all times.

Other safety tips for ladder use? Avoid using makeshift ladders, like standing on cans, chairs, and other objects. Make sure the ladder is set the proper distance from the building that supports it (OSHA recommends that distance to be approximately one-quarter of the working distance of the ladder).


Be Considerate

Safety is everyone’s concern. Employees should be encouraged to watch for safety hazards, not only to protect themselves but to protect their coworkers, too. They should report any potential safety hazard. They should also encourage other employees to follow safe practices to avoid slipping, tripping, or falling on the job and to avoid having any other accident at home or on the job.

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By Rod Dickens, ALCA Contributing Writer