Tuesday, December 30, 2014

INDUSTRY-WIDE HAZARDS: SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS ARE THE NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF INJURIES IN THE WORKPLACE



industry-Wide Hazards: Slips, Trips and Falls are the number 1 cause of injuries in the workplace





Potential Hazard


Employee exposure to wet floors or spills and clutter that can lead to slips/trips/falls and other possible injuries.




Possible Solutions


·         Keep floors clean and dry [29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2)]. In addition to being a slip hazard, continually wet surfaces promote the growth of mold, fungi, and bacteria, that can cause infections.



·         Provide warning signs for wet floor areas [29 CFR 1910.145(c)(2)].



·         Where wet processes are used, maintain drainage and provide false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places where practicable, or provide appropriate waterproof footgear [29 CFR 1910.141(a)(3)(ii)].



·         Walking/Working Surfaces Standard requires [29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1)]: Keep all places of employment clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.



·         Keep aisles and passageways clear and in good repair, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard [29 CFR 1910.22(b)(1)]. Provide floor plugs for equipment, so power cords need not run across pathways.



·         Keep exits free from obstruction. Access to exits must remain clear of obstructions at all times [29 CFR 1910.36(b)(4)].




Other Recommended Good Work Practices:


·         Ensure spills are reported and cleaned up immediately.



·         Use no-skid waxes and surfaces coated with grit to create non-slip surfaces in slippery areas such as toilet and shower areas.



·         Use waterproof footgear to decrease slip/fall hazards.



·         Use only properly maintained ladders to reach items. Do not use stools, chairs, or boxes as substitutes for ladders.



·         Re-lay or stretch carpets that bulge or have become bunched to prevent tripping hazards.



·         Aisles and passageways should be sufficiently wide for easy movement and should be kept clear at all times. Temporary electrical cords that cross aisles should be taped or anchored to the floor.



·         Eliminate cluttered or obstructed work areas.



·         Nurses station countertops or medication carts should be free of sharp, square corners.



·         Use prudent housekeeping procedures such as cleaning only one side of a passageway at a time, and provide good lighting for all halls and stairwells, to help reduce accidents.



·         Provide adequate lighting especially during night hours. You can use flashlights or low-level lighting when entering patient rooms.



·         Instruct workers to use the handrail on stairs, to avoid undue speed, and to maintain an unobstructed view of the stairs ahead of them even if that means requesting help to manage a bulky load.



·         Eliminate uneven floor surfaces.



·         Promote safe work in cramped working spaces. Avoid awkward positions, and use equipment that makes lifts less awkward.




Additional Information:


Walking/Working Surfaces. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.



29 CFR 1910.22, General Requirements (Walking/Working Surfaces). OSHA Standard



Small Business Handbook. OSHA Publication 2209-02R, (2005). Also available as a 260 KB PDF, 56 pages.











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FALL INJURIES PREVENTION IN THE WORKPLACE

Falls are a persistent hazard found in all occupational settings. A fall can occur during the simple acts of walking or climbing a ladder to change a light fixture or as a result of a complex series of events affecting an ironworker 80 feet above the ground. According to the 2009 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 605 workers were killed and an estimated 212,760 workers were seriously injured by falls to the same or lower level.
The highest frequency of fall-related fatalities was experienced by the construction industry, while the highest counts of nonfatal fall injuries continue to be associated with the health services and the wholesale and retail industries. Healthcare support, building cleaning and maintenance, transportation and material moving, and construction and extraction occupations are particularly at risk of fall injuries.

Circumstances associated with fall incidents in the work environment frequently involve slippery, cluttered, or unstable walking/working surfaces; unprotected edges; floor holes and wall openings; unsafely positioned ladders; and misused fall protection. Federal regulations and industry consensus standards provide specific measures and performance-based recommendations for fall prevention and protection. However, persistent unsafe practices and low safety culture across many industries define steady fall injury rates year after year.

Fall injuries constitute a considerable financial burden: workers’ compensation and medical costs associated with occupational fall incidents have been estimated at approximately $70 billion annually in the United Sates [NSC 2002]. Many countries are facing the same challenges as the United States on fall injury in the workplace. The international public health community has a strong interest in developing strategies to reduce the toll of fall injuries.

Successful reduction of fall injury and fatality rates requires continued concerted efforts of regulators and industry leaders, professional associations and labor unions, employers and employees, safety professionals and researchers in enhancing the work environment, implementing new effective fall prevention and protection technologies, and improving the work safety culture through continuous education of the workforce. NIOSH, as the leader in occupational safety research, plays a key role in these complex fall-injury prevention efforts.