December 7, 2009

80.1: Avoiding Slips, Trips and Falls Observe safety practices that eliminate slips, trips and falls.Perform your work to avoid creating hazards. Maintain good housekeeping. Clean up spills. Erect barricades, signs, or cones where appropriate. Avoid objects, obstructions, holes and openings and be alert to underfoot conditions.  Aisles, stairways and walkways must be kept free of tools, trucks, materials, equipment and obstructions.

80.2: Precautions Against Slips, Trips and Falls Take precautions to avoid slipping on:Slick surfaces such as recently washed, waxed floors, oil, grease or soap on the walkway. Snow, ice, wet spots or other hazards caused by inclement weather. Use appropriate footwear and accessories and/or spread sand/salt mixture (as appropriate) on ice before proceeding when icy conditions exist. When walking keep your eyes on the pathway and if hazardous under foot conditions exist:*Keep your hands out of pockets for balance. *Take short deliberate steps with toes pointed outward. *When stepping over objects, such as rails, be sure your front foot is flat before moving your rear foot. *Employees are prohibited from running except when necessary to prevent injury to themselves or others.

Let’s review

Although slips, trips, and falls can happen any time of year, we seem to be more subject during periods of inclement weather.   What can we do??? *Sometimes the hazards become enhanced due to such things as snow melting into water and then refreezing as black ice, forming icicles on buildings, or coating steps and hand holds on equipment *Excessive water can collect or pond at various locations, or soak into the soil creating slippery mud.

 Questions??-Do any of these conditions occur at your work location? -Do we have any areas that have recurring problems? -Are we focused on our surroundings? -Are there steps that we can take to correct or guard against these types of situations that cause hazardous walking conditions in our workplace? -Do each of us have appropriate footwear for inclement weather?  -If you are constantly in inclement weather conditions, would the use of certain winter safety footwear accessories be appropriate? -What attention needs to be given and what body mechanics employed to protect against slips, trips and falls?  -Have we taken all the steps necessary to prevent hazards in inclement weather?     -Let’s make sure that we have all our bases covered. -Have we taken all the steps necessary to prevent hazards in inclement weather? -Can each of you to commit to take all steps necessary to prevent slips, trips or falls from occurring.    “Safety is My Responsibility” to preventing these needless accidents.  BE CAREFUL IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND ASK YOURSELF--  What are the risks? What could go wrong?