Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention Name Job Title Phone email address Personalize the slide with the following information: Name Job Title Phone Number E-mail address Introductions Introduce yourself to the class. Discuss the following information with the class: Emergency exits Restrooms Breaks General rules of the class Have the participants introduce themselves and give an example of a slip, trip and/or fall that they have encountered at work.

What’s the problem ? It is the #1 leading cause of injury STF’s represent 20% of all COV claims 2006-2010 fiscal years there were 9,876 cases Total incurred costs of these claims: Ask the participants why slips, trips and falls (STF) are a problem. Discussion Explain that STF are the leading cause of workplace injuries for the Commonwealth as a whole. Ask participants to guess how many workers’ compensation claims were STF. Ask the participants to guess how much money was spent on these claims. NOTE: Create an agency specific slide to compare your agency against the Commonwealth. See how your agency stands up. $41,543,173 +

Slip, Trip and Fall Claims Breakdown Different Level 3172 (32%) Same Level 2278 (23%) Liquid & Spills 1359 (14%) Ice / Snow 1192 (12%) Stairs 698 (7%) Misc 647 (7%) Slip / No Fall 263 (3%) Ladder / Scaffold 145 (1%) Floor Openings 122 (1%) 9,876 This slide breaks down the different types of STF. NOTE: Create an agency specific slide that breaks down the types of STF your agency has encountered. See how you compare to the Commonwealth.

Slips Slip -loss of balance caused by too little friction between a person’s foot and a walking surface. Common Causes: Wet or oily surfaces, Occasional spills, Weather hazards, Loose, unanchored rugs or mats, and Flooring or other walking surfaces that are worn. Ask participants to define “Slips.” Discussion Read the definition of slips Definition: Slips happen when there is a loss of balance caused by too little friction between a person’s foot and a walking surface. Ask participants to give examples of what could cause slips. Discuss each common cause and give examples or ask the participants to give examples.

Trips Trip - hit an object, lose your balance and fall Common Causes: Obstructed view Poor lighting Clutter in your way Wrinkled carpeting Uncovered cables Drawers not being closed Uneven (steps, thresholds) walking surfaces Ask participants to define “Trips.” Discussion Read the definition of trips. Definition: Trips happen when your foot collides (strikes, hits) an object causing you to lose your balance and eventually fall. Ask participants to give examples of what could cause trips. Discuss each common cause and give examples or ask the participants to give examples.

Falls Fall: - when you lose your balance & drop to the floor There are three types of falls: Falls on the same level Slip or trip immediately precedes fall to floor or walkway Falls to lower level Falls are from platforms, docks, ladders, steps or stairs Jumps to lower level An intentional jump from one level to another Employee jumps off ladder, dock, equipment Ask participants to define “Falls.” Discussion Read the definition of falls. Ask participants if they can name the three types of falls. Discuss each type of fall and give examples or ask the participants to give examples.

Prevention Good housekeeping Quality of walking surfaces (flooring) Selection of proper footwear Appropriate pace of work Ask the question: “How do we prevent falls due to slips and trips?” Let the participants answer the question. Discuss the prevention steps. NOTE: You may want to use an easel, chalkboard or some other writing surface and write down the participants’ ideas. If they come up with prevention techniques not listed, think about incorporating those ideas into the training program.

Housekeeping Clean up spills immediately Mark spills and wet areas Mop or sweep debris from floor Remove obstacles from walkways Keep walkways free of clutter Secure mats, rugs and carpets Ask participants: “Why is housekeeping important in preventing STF?” Discussion Explain to participants that good housekeeping is the first and most important (fundamental) level of preventing falls due to slips and trips. Discuss the list on the slide. Ask participants if they know of any injuries caused by one of these risk factors. Have them tell what the injury was, the risk factor and how could have it been avoided.

Housekeeping Cover cables that cross walkways Close file cabinet or storage drawers Cover cables that cross walkways Keep working areas and walkways well lit Replace burned out bulbs Discuss the list on the slide. Ask participants if they know of any injuries caused by one of these risk factors. Have them tell what the injury was, the risk factor and how could have it been avoided. Remember, without good housekeeping practices, any other preventative measures such as installation of sophisticated flooring, specialty footwear or training on techniques of walking will never be fully effective.

Flooring Change or modify walking surfaces Recoat or replace floors Install mats Pressure-sensitive abrasive strips Abrasive-filled paint-on coating Metal or synthetic decking The next level in preventing STF is changing or modifying walking surfaces. Discuss the controls listed on this slide. Ask participants: “Are you aware of any of these controls currently being used at your agency?” Discussion Explain to participants that it is critical to remember that high-tech flooring requires good housekeeping as much as any other flooring NOTE: Take pictures of any of these controls and insert into the presentation behind this slide.

Footwear Conditions: Floors - oily or wet Considerable time outdoors Advantages Properly fitted Increased comfort Prevent fatigue Improve safety In workplaces where floors may be oily or wet or where workers spend considerable time outdoors, prevention of fall accidents should focus on selecting proper footwear. Ask participants: “What type of footwear do you currently wear for the job you do?” Discussion Explain to participants that since no footwear has anti-slip properties for every condition, they should consult with a manufacturers’ representative for the correct footwear based on job duties. Explain the advantages of proper footwear and how they can help reduce STF injuries. NOTE: Talk about agency specific requirements for footwear. Talk about best practices: Outdoors = work boots Indoors = at a minimum sneakers

What can YOU do to avoid slipping at work? Take your time Pay attention Adjust stride to the task Walk with feet pointed slightly outward Make wide turns at corners. Discuss with the participants the techniques used for avoiding slips at work. Take your time and pay attention to where you are going. Adjust your stride to a pace that is suitable for the walking surface and task you are doing. Walk with your feet slightly pointed outward Make wide turns at corners Ask participants if they can think of any other techniques that might help avoid a slip at work. Discussion Here are some additional things to consider: Clean up your messes Use handrails on steps Climb safely

What can YOU do to avoid tripping at work? Sufficient lighting Portable lighting Watch where you are walking Carrying or pushing objects obstructions, spills or objects lying on the floor Discuss with participants the techniques used for avoiding tripping at work. Always used installed light sources that provide sufficient light for the task. Use a flashlight or other portable light source (flood lights, light sticks, stationary lights) if you enter dark areas where there is no light. Watch where you are walking. Ensure that what you are carrying or pushing does not prevent you from seeing obstructions, spills or objects lying on the floor) Ask participants if they can think of any other techniques that could help avoid a trip at work. Discussion Here are some other things to consider: Steer around hazards Do not carry loads that block your view

Inclement Weather Slow down to react to a change in traction Wearing slip-resistant shoes or overshoes carry your work shoes Sunglasses outdoors in ice and snow Treat walking surfaces Wet shoes on dry floors – Caution ! Discuss “Inclement Weather”. Talk about snow, ice, rain, wind, hail and dew. Remember that all of these conditions can create a hazardous walking surface. Discuss points on slide and ask participants if they have examples of injuries that could have been caused by inclement weather. Discussion Remember, wet shoes on a dry surface can be just as hazardous as dry shoes on a wet surface.

Report Hazards Immediately If you cannot fix the hazard yourself then: Immediately report the hazard Alert or warn others in the area Mark the area or stay there until help arrives Hazards not fixed in a timely manner Contact the agency Safety Officer Ask participants what they do if they come across a hazard. Discussion Review your agency’s specific policy or procedures on reporting accidents.

Can you identify what is wrong in the following pictures? The following pictures are generic in nature and can be used in any presentation concerning STF. It is strongly recommended that the instructor take agency specific pictures. Incorporate those pictures into this training program. Remember, if you take pictures that the participants can identify with, you will get better results and buy-in.

Ask the participants what is wrong with this slide. Discussion Move onto the next slide.

This is a broken stair. Explain to participants that this defect/hazard could contribute to a STF. Ask the participants what should be done. Discussion

Ask the participants what is wrong with this slide. Discussion Move onto the next slide.

This slide represents a trip and fall hazard. If you look closely at the slide, the root of the tree has grown under the walkway and pushing the brick up. Uneven walking surfaces. Trip and fall from the same level. NOTE: Refer back to the slide that represents Slip, Trip and Fall Claims breakdown. Remember that falls from the same level represent 50 % of all STF.

Ask participants what is wrong with this slide. Discussion Ask participants how they would fix this hazard. This slide represents a trip hazard. Here you can see an electrical cord in the middle of the walkway. This cord is plugged into an electrical outlet. Rearrange the room so that the piece of equipment is close to the outlet or have an additional outlet installed. If there is no way to rearrange the room or install a new outlet, then run the cord up the wall across the ceiling and down the wall to prevent the trip and fall hazard. The last resort would be to tape down the cord or use a cord cover as a means of preventing someone from tripping.

Ask the participants what is wrong with this slide. Discussion Ask the participants how this hazard could be corrected. This slide represents a slip and fall hazard. There is a spill on the floor. Move on to the next slide.

This slide represents a spill that has been identified. Using a sign to notify individuals that the floor is wet is a good preventive measure. Remember though, that just because it has been identified, it must still be cleaned up.

Ask participants what is wrong with this slide. Discussion Ask the participant how they would address this situation This slide represents trip and/or fall hazard. A portion of the sidewalk has given way to a sink-hole. If you look in the upper left hand corner you will see a barricade. Anytime a significant size hole is identified on walking surface, barricades or indicators of some sort should be installed around the hole to prevent a trip and fall.

Ask the participants if they can identify the hazard in this slide. Discussion Look in the middle of the slide and you will see a portion of the flooring that has either worn away or been removed. Ask the participants why this is a hazard. This slide represents a slip, trip and fall hazard. Think about why all three are possible and discuss with the participants.

Ask participants what is wrong with this slide. Discussion This slide represents a slip, trip and fall hazard. Slip: if it is wet outside and the mat is folded back, then the floor is getting wet instead of the mat absorbing the water. Trip: the mat is folded back and someone could catch their foot on the mat and trip. Fall: both a wet floor and caught foot could contribute to a fall.

Ask participants what is wrong with this slide. Discussion This slide represents a trip and fall hazard. In this picture you can see that the sidewalk is uneven.

Ask the participants if they can identify all the hazards located in this slide. Discussion This picture is of a stairwell. The fire door should not be propped open. Storage of materials should be in stairwells. Trip hazards: Trash cans in front of doorway. Cinderblock propping open the door. Chair is blocking an emergency cut-off valve. The chair could also represent a struck against hazard. Someone goes to sit in the chair, and strikes their head on the pipe and valve behind it. This chair could also encourage smoking in the stairwell. Any other hazards?

Ask participants to identify the hazard in this slide. Discussion This slide represents a trip and fall hazard. Here is a damaged piece of flooring. Someone has attempted to fix it by placing tape over the area that is lifting up.

Ask participants what is wrong with this picture. Discussion Look closely at the walk areas and the arrangement of the parking spaces. The bump guard for the car is obstructing the path from the car to the walk area.

Questions Ask the participants if they have any additional questions. Discussion Thank the participants for attending. Dismissal