National Safety Council Falls at Work - Protect Yourself and your Employees W. E. Scott PhD, PE June 8, 2009
National Safety Council Mission The National Safety Council saves lives by preventing injuries at work, on the roads, in homes and in communities through leadership, research, education and advocacy. Goal Save 10,000 lives and prevent 1 million injuries by 2014.
National Safety Council Non-profit organization o More than 18,000 member companies o More than 54,000 member locations o That employ more than 8 million 39 chapters located throughout U.S.
Falls at Work - Protect Yourself and your Employees
Webinar Goals Identify the impact of slips, trips and falls in the workplace. Recognize the various types of slips, trips and falls. Recognize the OSHA regulations and other industry standards relating to slips, trips and falls. Recognize the slip, trip and fall hazards. Identify actions you can take to prevent slips, trips and falls.
Did You Know Over 275,000 occupational injuries were caused by slips, trips and falls in 2008.
Did You Know Nearly 800 occupational deaths were caused by falls in 2008.
Did You Know In the year 2008, a median of... 14 work days were lost due to falls to a lower level. 9 work days were lost due to falls on the same level. 7 work days were lost due to slips and trips.
Did You Know In the years 2007-2008... The average workers compensation cost for a slip/trip/fall was $21,500.
Did You Know In the years 2007-2008... The average incurred workers compensation cost per trip/slip/fall exceeded the average cost of other injuries by 14%.
Slips, Trips & Falls (STF) STF s represents #1 cause of injury after motor vehicle accidents STF s occur in any part of the workplace whether inside or outside. STF s may result in serious outcomes STF s cost to both worker and employer can be great STF s is like stepping on money To Worker: pain lost wages temporary or permanent disability reduced quality of life depression To Employer: loss in productivity and business increased worker s compensation premiums costs associated with training replacement worker cost of medical treatment
Definitions Loss of balance when there is too little friction between the foot and the floor Slip Trip Loss of balance when the foot collides with, strikes or hits an object in its path
Definitions Fall To move downward, typically rapidly and freely, from a higher to a lower level
Definitions Friction The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another The resistance between the shoe and the walking surface
Definitions Coefficient of Friction A measurement that indicates how slippery a floor is under dry conditions 1-16
Examples of COF If it takes 6 pounds of force to move a 10 pound object, then: 6 (horizontal force) 10 (vertical force) the coefficient of friction (COF) is 0.6. This is considered by floor experts to be a safe rating.
Examples of COF If it takes 2 pounds of force to move a 10 pound object, then: 2 (horizontal force) 10 (vertical force) the COF is 0.2. This is considered by floor experts to be an unsafe, slippery rating.
Two Types of COF Static Coefficient of Friction the force required to initiate relative motion between an object and a surface it is resting on Dynamic Coefficient of Friction the force required to keep a sliding object in motion once sliding has begun
Slips Causes: o Slippery surfaces o Wearing the wrong footwear Two types of slips during normal walking: o As the heel of the forward foot contacts the walking surface, the foot slips forward, and the person falls backward. o The rear foot slips backward, and the person falls.
Slips Cont Friction is the force that allows someone to walk without slipping. Traction is the adhesive force between the walking surface and the sole of the shoe The higher the friction, the better the traction: o Low traction: icy, wet, oily, or waxed surfaces o Higher traction: dry concrete or other dry surfaces Use of slip resistant footwear can reduce slips and the resultant falls and injuries.
Trips Cause: o Sudden stop caused by foot striking an object, throwing the upper body forward. Examples: o Un-level walking surfaces, even as minor a difference as 3/8 inches o A slight difference in a stair can cause a fall up the stairs
Trips Cont Step and fall o Front foot lands lower than expected (i.e. stepping off a curb) o Normally falls forward o Turning an ankle results from stepping on an uneven surface
Common types of STF Injuries: Sprains, strains Bruises, contusions Fractures Abrasions, lacerations
Commonly affected Body Parts: Knee, Ankle, Foot Wrist, Elbow Back Shoulder Hip Head
Recognizing Slip, Trip and Fall Hazards
Regulations and Standards OSHA Regulatory Requirements Voluntary Consensus Standards NFPA ANSI ASTM NFSI Individual State Building Codes
Reactive or Proactive Reactive Responding to incidents when they occur Putting out fires Taking corrective action after an incident occurs Placing blame after an incident Fixing symptoms Proactive Identifying hazards before they cause an incident Correcting systems Taking corrective action before an incident occurs Finding root causes after an incident Fixing problems
Many STF Events Can Be Prevented According to the U. S. Department of Labor, slips, trips, and falls make up the majority of general industry accidents. 25% of reported w/c claims per fiscal year are due to STF Over 17% of all disabling work injuries are the result of falls
Risk Factor Categories Environment Risks in the work environment Equipment Risks inherent in the equipment employees use Work Practices Risks that are caused by work requirements, processes or procedures Individual Risks unique to the individual, including inherent characteristics, habits and behavior
Where Do Hazards Lurk
Human Factors Increasing the Risk of Slips, Trips and Falls Health and physical condition can impair a person s vision, judgment, and balance. - Eyesight, visual perception -Age - Physical state, fatigue - Stress, illness -Medications, alcohol, drug Behaviours actions you choose and control can contribute to a slip, trip, and fall injury if you set yourself up for one. Carrying or moving cumbersome objects, or too many objects, that obstruct your view impair your balance and prevent you from holding onto handrails Poor housekeeping (allowing clutter to accumulate, not maintaining clean dry floors, etc.) Using improper cleaning methods (e.g., incorrectly using wax or polish; or trying to clean up grease spill with water) Not using signage when slip or trip hazards exist Inattentive Behavior: walking, distractions (e.g., using cell phone, talking and not watching where you re going, etc.) Taking shortcuts; not using walkways or designated, cleared pathways; being in a hurry, rushing around
Elevated Falls vs. Same Level Falls Elevated Less Frequent More Severe Involves Striking an object during a fall Over 60% are from less than 10 ft. Same Level More Frequent Less Severe Usually involves slips or trips
Evaluating Slip, Trip and Fall Hazards
Causes of Slips, Trips and Falls Training 7% Failure to warn 9% Flooring 50% Fraud 10% Footwear 24%
Factors of Floor Slipperiness Floor material Floor finish Floor texture and pattern Floor slope Floor contaminants Floor condition Environmental conditions Footwear of person Footstep of person
The James Machine A machine that measures the static coefficient of friction of a floor finish. This is the measure of how slip resistant a finish is. Also known as ASTM test method D2047. The sufficient James Machine reading to indicate slip resistance is 0.5 or greater. Photo used with permission from the National Floor Safety Institute
Horizontal Drag Meter This machine, a drag sled, measures the point at which a horizontal force acting upon a resting object first causes the object to move. For consistent results, the horizontal pulling force is applied through a small motor connected by nylon cord. May be used on wet surfaces. Photo used with permission from the National Floor Safety Institute
BOT-3000 Portable tribometer designed to provide readings relating to static and dynamic coefficient of friction on both wet and dry surfaces. Photo used with permission from the National Floor Safety Institute
Portable Inclinable Articulated Strut A portable inclinable articulated strut slip tester (PIAST) measures friction at the shoe and floor interface. Photo used with permission from the National Floor Safety Institute
English XL The English XL measures the static coefficient of friction (SCOF) of a particular surface, either dry, wet or in the presence of contaminants in order to determine the relative safeness of the surface in relation to the accepted standards adopted by ASTM, ANSI, and UL. Photo used with permission from the National Floor Safety Institute
General Rule Slips and trips happen frequently, but tend not to be severe. Falls happen infrequently, but tend to be severe.
Controlling Slips, Trips and Falls
Engineering Controls Controls that are engineered into the job most important type of control
Types of Engineering Controls Redesign of equipment Substitution of a material, equipment or process Change of process to minimize slips, trips and falls Use of barriers to isolate a hazard Use of barriers to isolate a person
Making Floors Slip Resistant Use floor mats. Apply slip-resistant floor treatments. Apply floor skid strips to steps and stair nosings.
Administrative Controls Controls that change the way people do their jobs only effective when people do what they are supposed to do
Types of Administrative Controls Education and training Signage Adjusting work schedules or rotating assignments to reduce exposure Maintenance Good housekeeping Contracting specialized services
Personal Protective Equipment Controls that protect people from the hazard rather than eliminate the hazard
Types of PPE Slip-resistant shoes Fall arrest equipment Hard hats Goggles Nets Roll bars Safety platforms
Opportunity for Questions Save 10,000 lives and prevent 1 million injuries by 2014
Contact Info: W. E. Scott PhD, PE Manager, Consulting Services National Safety Council Office: 630-775-2382 Email: wes.scott@nsc.org
References National Safety Council http://www.nsc.org National Floor Safety Institute http://www.nfsi.org/ American National Standards Institute http://www.ansi.org/ OSHA http://www.osha.gov NIOSH http: //www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html