1. Slips, Trips, and Falls

2. Fall Factors
Friction
Momentum
Gravity 1a

3. What happens when you slip
Loss of balance caused by too little friction
Loss of traction
Wet surfaces
Spills 2a

4. What happens when you slip
Weather hazards
Potential solutions
Practice safe walking skills
Clean up spills
Keep grease off shop floors
Be cautious on smooth surfaces 2b

5. Preventing slips Use appropriate footwear
Increase friction between shoes and walking surface 3a

6. Preventing slips
Strap-on cleats
Proper footwear selection 3b

7. Why trips occur When a person trips: Worker’s foot hits an object
Balance is thrown off
Creates momentum to fall 4a

8. Why trips occur Cluttered work areas Poor lighting
Area has loose footing 4b

9. Why trips occur
Worker is in a hurry
Worker is inattentive 4c

10. Preventing trips Ensure you can see over the load you are carrying
Ensure adequate lighting
Keep work areas free of clutter/litter 5a

11. Preventing trips Keep furniture out of walkways/traffic areas
Tape down extension cords/keep out of walkways 5b

12. Preventing trips Eliminate loose footing on stairs, steps, floors
Properly store ramps and gangplanks in loading dock areas 5c

13. Why falls occur Person moves too far away from center of balance
Caused by:
Makeshift ladders
Misuse of ladders
Poor climbing habits
Improper scaffolding use 6a

14. Preventing falls Don’t jump from elevations Ensure adequate lighting
Docks
Trucks
Work stages
Ensure adequate lighting 7a

15. Preventing falls Repair or report loose or broken stairs, handrails
Don’t use stairs/aisles as storage areas
Wear appropriate footwear 7b

16. Prevent injury on stairs
Use handrails whenever possible
Walk up and down stairs; don’t run
Ensure you can see over the load you are carrying 8a

17. Prevent injury on stairs
Report unsafe conditions, including broken:
Stair treads
Floor boards
Handrails 8b

18. Ladder and scaffold safety
Don’t use makeshift ladders
Piling up boxes, chairs, benches
Inspect ladders before use
Missing or broken rungs 9a

19. Ladder and scaffold safety
Face the ladder when climbing
Use both hands on ladders
Hoist materials up to you 9b

20. Ladder and scaffold safety
Keep your center of balance on ladder
Adjust position of ladder - don’t overreach
Use the four-to-one rule
For every foot up, have 3 inches (1/4 foot) out 9c

21. Ladder and scaffold safety
One person at a time on a ladder
Don’t stand on top step of ladder
Stay away from ladders to avoid falling objects 9d

22. Ladder and scaffold safety
Check scaffolding daily for defects
Clear work surfaces of snow, ice, slippery material 9e

23. Ladder and scaffold safety
Respect the load limits of scaffolds
Lock wheels/casters on mobile scaffolding
Use proper PPE 9f

24. Summary of main points Fall factors Why slips occur Why trips occur

25. Summary of main points Why falls occur Hazards of stairs
Ladder and scaffold safety
10b

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