Whether it’s a General or Construction Industry, occupational hazards are principal elements that can pose a severe life-threatening menace. Yet, when training amateur employees, supervisors often overlook slips, trips, and fall hazards and focus on other risks, such as controlling and preventing fire, electrical, and chemical exposure.

 

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Despite knowing that Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates employers to protect workers against all potential workplace hazards and since the safety of everyone is paramount, slip, trip, and fall accidents occur, which put many workers at risk of serious injuries such as strains, cuts, bruises, fractures, and sprains and even in some cases lead to fatalities.

 

As per the records of OSHA, slips, trips, and falls are considered one of the top three reasons behind work-related injuries while managing day-to-day operations, particularly in the inherently dangerous construction industries. 

 

Let’s dive into the significant differences and factors of each of these hazards separately: 

Slips, Trips, and Falls: Understanding the Risks and Prevention

Although they are quite similar, there are differences between these hazards.

Slips

Slips can be perceived as falling on a uniform level due to disequilibrium when there is little to no friction/traction between the foot/footwear and the walking surface.

Common Causes of Slips:

  1. Spills such as water, muck, grease, and oil

  2. Weather risks (such as ice and snow)

  3. Unanchored, loose mats and carpets

  4. Floors made of marble, concrete, or ceramic tiles

  5. Brand-new waxed flooring or uneven pavements

  6. Leaping up ladders

Trips

Trips occur when someone collapses on the same level due to a disruption in balance when the foot strikes or collides with an object on its way, or when someone steps down to a lower gradient due to an uneven surface (misstep).

Common Causes of Trips:

  1. Clutter on the floor or wrinkly carpets or mats

  2. Obstructed view

  3. Dim lighting

  4. Uncovered cables, wires, hoses, and extension cords

  5. Missing bricks and floor tiles

  6. Broken, inconsistent, or irregular steps

Falls

Falls happen when someone moves downward quickly and freely upon losing their balance from a high to low area against gravity and lands on their torso, feet, or head too hard.

Common Causes of Falls:

  1. Shaky or broken ladders

  2. Ledges lacking a suitable railing

  3. Carrying large items

  4. Failure to use scaffolding guardrails

  5. Ladders positioned riskily

  6. Equipment used improperly for height access

Preventative Measures

The best way to deal with accidents and injuries is to prevent them by implementing safety measures and planning strategies to assess the risks. Below are the seven best solutions to ensure safety against slips, trips, and falls on your job site:

Awareness and Discipline:

Incorporate a routine 10-minute briefing at the start of the workday to discuss site conditions, pointing out wet surfaces, fall hazards, or other injury-prone areas.

Install Adequate Lighting:

Perform tasks under sufficient lighting to help identify obstacles and hazardous substances. Adequate lighting helps in avoiding potential dangers.

Put Up Safety Hazard Signage:

Mark or secure locations of openings, holes, or spills deemed dangerous. Safety signage can prevent injuries and fatalities.

Get the Correct Footwear:

Slip-resistant footwear is an excellent choice as it provides superior traction on both flat and uneven surfaces.

Maintain Clear Walking Areas:

Keep work areas free of loose items, gravel, garbage, tools, and equipment that could cause tripping or falling.

Institute Wet Floor Policy:

Regularly inspect for leaks and spills. Have the necessary tools on hand for cleanup, put up signage to mark spills, and clear walkways regularly, especially during snowfall or rain.

Statistics on Fatalities Caused by Slips, Trips, and Falls

Trips, slips, and falls are among the most frequent causes of workplace injuries. They can result in sprains, strains, fractures, head injuries, and even death.

 

  1. 211,640 occurrences of slips, trips, and falls were reported in 2020.

  2. 805 workers lost their lives in falls from high levels in 2020.

  3. 136 workers died in falls from the same level in 2020.

  4. 15% of all non-fatal workplace injuries result from workers being struck by objects or equipment on the job.

  5. 57% of ladder-related fatalities occur in the construction sector.

  6. 33% of falls on the same level result from trips and slips.

 

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Significance of Enrolling in an Online Safety Training Course

Although it is the employer’s responsibility to provide entry-level workers with adequate safety training, workers should also be responsible for identifying slip, trip, and fall hazards before starting a task.

 

By enrolling in an online course relevant to your industry, you will receive proper training on identifying, preventing, and controlling risks related to slips, trips, and falls, along with other essential site safety topics. Consistently following safety procedures can help avert many possible mishaps.