Slipping, tripping and falling

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1 Slipping, tripping and falling Around 37% of all major accidents in the workplace are caused by slipping and tripping. In 95% of these reported accidents there are broken or dislocated bones, with well over a million working days lost each year. Slipping accidents are much more common than tripping HSE accident statistics show the ratio is around 5:2. Recent HSE research reveals that the average cost of settling a compensation claim following a slipping, tripping or falling accident is 4,222. In many cases, slipping or tripping leads to more serious consequences such as falling from a height, collision with moving vehicles, scalding from falling pans of hot liquid, or injury from sharp work tools. One 16 year old girl plunged her hand and arm into a deep fryer to save herself from slipping on a wet floor. Most of these slipping and tripping accidents are reasonably foreseeable and could have been prevented by implementing simple control measures, for example 90% are caused by wet floors, which could have been sign-posted or screened off. The following sections identify common causes and typical control measures. In all cases, there is a duty for the employer to ensure the health and safety of employees and any other person in or around the workplace. This requires the provision of safe access and egress, information, and adequate warnings of any risks to health and safety. Slipping hazards The mechanism of slipping can be broadly categorised as follows: the heel of the moving front foot contacts the surface and slips forward, or the heel of the rear foot lifts and as the force moves towards the front of the foot, the sole slips backwards and the person falls forwards. Accident statistics show that slipping injuries are especially linked with wet floors - slips occur when foot and floor surface cannot make effective contact or grip. This hazard is generally controlled and minimised by good housekeeping and maintenance, supplemented by encouragement to wear suitable footwear where the hazard cannot be completely eliminated. causing slipping accidental spills or splashes of liquids (or solids) poorly drained or wet floors (eg, following cleaning, or trailing in mud from outdoors) wet leaves, ice, rain, sleet or snow dusty floors sloping surfaces loose mats on polished floors, including laying cardboard over spills (a bad practice) change from a wet to a dry surface (footwear still wet) unsuitable or worn floor surface/covering unsuitable footwear, including worn or contaminated soles distracting adverse conditions glare, shadows, excess noise. make arrangements to detect and deal with spills quickly - especially where members of the public are present. Do not try and hide the spill hazard (eg, with sheets of cardboard) make it

2 obvious with warning signs. Make it clear via training that it is everyone s responsibility to report and act on spills as soon as possible clean up spills as soon as practicable: use a suitable cleaning agent for oils or grease. Do not cover with cardboard it is a tripping hazard after wet cleaning use appropriate signs/barriers or arrange alternative bypass routes ensure that carpets, mats and rugs are securely fixed and do not have curling edges ensure adequate drainage of floor surfaces; in cold-weather conditions (frost, snow or sleet), salt or grit exterior surfaces where appropriate. Make arrangements for this to happen before the morning rush provide doormats and signs warning of the risks of coming from wet to dry areas. Make sure the mats are big enough to cope with the traffic ensure that floor surfaces are suitable for the traffic use (pedestrian and vehicle) ensure that slopes have good visibility, provide handrails and floor markings in autumn and winter, make sure you have effective procedures to clear wet leaves and apply salt and/or grit to icy surfaces ensure that employees wear suitable footwear. If risk assessment indicates slip-resistant footwear, the employer must supply it free of charge. The HSE has developed a Slip Assessment Tool to help employers evaluate slipping hazards and identify practical control measures relating to pedestrian walkways. The SAT is used in conjunction with a small, portable surface micro-roughness meter, which users must obtain separately. The HSE software is freely available at this website: Tripping hazards Accident statistics show that entrance matting and the condition of non-slip mats are especially linked to tripping accidents. Trips occur due to obstructions on the floor surface (clutter and debris), fixed or otherwise, or when a person s view of obstructions is impeded or obscured. These hazards are generally controlled and minimised by good planning, housekeeping and maintenance. causing tripping accidents loose floorboards and tiles loose or worn carpets and mats uneven floor surfaces (eg, paviours and floor slabs), holes and cracks, bumps, ridges, protruding drain covers or nails, etc changes in surface level: ramps, steps and stairs cables across walking areas obstructions: materials, rubbish, etc (poor housekeeping) low wall and floor fixtures: door stops, catches, etc electrical and telephone socket outlets poor visibility or lighting shadows, glare.

3 ensure that all floor surfaces suitably secured and well maintained: repair damaged surfaces, fill holes and cracks, etc ensure adequate lighting around changes in level, mark areas clearly, fit visually-apparent tread nosings ensure staircases, steps and access ramps are fitted with secure, robust handrails position equipment to avoid cables crossing pedestrian routes, use cable covers to securely fix to surfaces, restrict access to prevent contact keep access areas free from obstructions (housekeeping): clean regularly, do not allow rubbish to build up, store goods and materials in suitable receptacles. Ensure waste materials are regularly disposed of, especially flammable and combustible materials ensure all access areas are adequately lit: areas that are obscured by smoke or steam should be avoided wherever possible. If this is not practicable, improve ventilation and warn of the risks. Falling hazards These include falling down stairways, through unprotected windows, into open manholes, through weak barriers and fencing protecting a drop. The control measures typically involve: place barriers around temporary openings such as cellar entrances, open manholes etc fit secure fencing and guard rails, at least 1100mm high, around any place where a person could fall two metres or more where it is not possible to use a staircase, fixed ladders must have fall-arrest systems or safety hoops fitted prevent unauthorised access to lift-rooms, lift-ways and shafts, etc if fencing has to be removed for maintenance purposes use a permit-to-work system and suitablytrained persons. Specific hazards involving falling The following sections identify specific hazards associated with workplace slips, trips and falls in particular circumstances. Working over or by water This covers any access over or by any large volume of liquid: tanks, ponds, ditches, reservoirs, rivers, sea, etc. Considerable effort should be spent on preventing personnel from falling into the water. Any slip, trip or fall can result in drowning, and may endanger rescuers in the same way. consider the effects of: waves and debris striking the work platform, undermining by scour, corrosion of access equipment, etc wear protective clothing: insulated jacket, footwear with non-slip soles, a buoyancy aid to approved standards, etc never work alone over or near water

4 provide suitable fencing, life belts, safety lines or netting ensure that all personnel are trained in working and rescue procedures provide suitable boats for access and rescue (including their maintenance) provide safe landing stages with adequate lighting and mooring arrangements. Working near plant and machinery Safe access and good visibility must be provided for plant and vehicles entering and leaving the workplace. Workers and pedestrians should always be segregated from vehicular access-ways and stationary plant wherever possible. collision with moving machinery trapping or crushing between moving machinery and static objects slips, trips or falls: machinery or its services. Maintain segregated vehicle and pedestrian routes in good order: provide suitable physical barriers around segregated areas: vehicle crash barriers, fencing, barriers, bunting, etc ensure that all services to plant (electricity, water, gas, etc) are secure and guarded post suitable warning signs impose and enforce speed limits ensure that all areas are kept clean and clear of obstructions. Working over or near roads and railways Work near roads and railways requires special planning and detailed liaison with the relevant authorities (police, Railtrack, highway authority, etc). The hazards involve workers, members of the public and passing traffic. This is a two-way function, as the public must be protected from the workers and vice versa. collision between access equipment or moving machinery and members of the public or traffic falling objects striking passing pedestrians or traffic pedestrians slipping or tripping on work platforms or materials. provide suitable physical barriers to segregate working areas: fencing, barriers, bunting, etc use a banksman to guide moving machinery such as MEWPs, lorries, etc ensure that work platforms are wide enough and fitted with toe boards, protection nets, pavement frames, etc arrange diversions, or lane or line closures wherever possible (pedestrian and traffic)

5 use barriers, sign-posts, reflectors, cones, traffic lights or signalling systems always wear high-visibility clothing keep work areas well-lit, clean and free from debris. Working at heights Workplace falls from a height accounted for 67 fatal accidents and almost 4,000 major injuries in 2003/04, remaining the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the biggest causes of major injury. This topic covers all forms of access for working at a height: scaffolds, towers, ladders, mobile work platforms, window-cleaning equipment, man-riding skips, and roof work. Many accidents occur from carrying, lifting and using tools and equipment on access platforms or ladders. The root cause is often failure to carry out a risk assessment, so missing the chance to identify a safe working method. Working at Height Regulations came into force on 6 April 2005 and apply to all work where there is a risk of a fall that is liable to cause personal injury. They place duties on employers, the selfemployed, and any person that controls the work of others to the extent of their control (for example facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height). The Regulations do not apply to the provision of instruction or leadership in caving or climbing by way of sport, recreation, team building or similar activities. They require duty holders to ensure: all work at height is properly planned and organised those involved in work at height are competent the risks from work at height are assessed and appropriate work equipment is selected and used the risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled equipment for work at height is properly inspected and maintained. The Regulations include Schedules setting out requirements for existing places of work and means of access for work at height, collective fall prevention (eg guard-rails and working platforms), collective fall arrest (eg nets, airbags etc), personal fall protection (eg work restraints, fall arrest and rope access) and ladders. workers falling from heights or falling through fragile roof materials falling objects and people striking those working below, passing pedestrians or traffic slipping or collapsing access equipment such as ladders, trestles, scaffolds etc slips, trips and falls on elevated access ways. The working at height regulations specify a general hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height, namely: avoiding work at height where possible using equipment or other measures to prevent falls where they cannot avoid working at height using equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur, in cases where the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated. Other specific actions include: preventing unauthorised access to roofs, roof-spaces, chimney stacks, etc

6 ensure that all workers are suitably trained in the safe use of access and safety equipment ladders should be used only for light work of short duration, where there is no safer alternative in particular, train and supervise workers not to over-reach on ladders and platforms ensure that ladders are inclined at 75º (ratio of 1:4) and that they are secured, top and bottom (eg, have someone foot the ladder) use purpose-made roof ladders or crawling boards for roof work maintain a log of ladders, steps and trestles: inspect and remove from service any damaged or broken ladders, etc never use makeshift ladders or access equipment regularly inspect and maintain all access equipment prior to use, after adverse conditions, as part of a regular inspection/maintenance programme provide suitable physical barriers to segregate working areas: fencing, barriers, bunting, etc ensure that work platforms are capable of supporting people, their work equipment and materials. They should be fitted with handrails, toe boards, etc, and be sufficiently wide to walk on without risk of stumbling or losing balance. Mobile platforms must have out-riggers to improve their stability use safety harnesses, fall-arrest devices or safety nets as required. Note that safety nets protect those working in the space below (fall-arrest equipment and safety harnesses require specialist training, as well as statutory inspection every six months see BS EN 353, BS EN 361, BS EN 813 and BS EN 1263) supply and use anchorage points for safety harnesses and ladders. These may be inside the building for use by window cleaners (regular inspection required) ensure correct loading of all access equipment identify and label all existing fragile roof areas, especially where the fragility is disguised - for example roof-lights in metal sheet roofing, or bituminised asbestos cement sheeting valley and parapet roof gutters should be provided with covers on the adjacent roof areas to prevent maintenance staff accidentally falling through ensure that the ground and weather conditions are suitable for the type of access equipment being used (consider the effects of wind, rain, uneven, soft or slippery ground, etc). Finally, work tasks involving working at a height should be undertaken using written safe working method statements. This rule should be applied to contractors as well as employees. Contractors should be given information on relevant permit-to work systems, fire precautions, and prohibited areas on roofs, towers, chimney stacks, etc. v2.2