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| Don’t Take Falls Lightly |
Question: What does this number represent? $6.2 billion
Answer: In 2007, disabling workplace injuries from same level falls resulted in $6.2 billion in US workers’ compensation claims. (Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index)
Here are a few more fall-related statistics:
- In Canada about 15 percent of all lost-time worker injuries are related to falls. (Pulp and Paper Health and Safety Association)
- About 37 percent of workplace injuries in the US are related to slips, trips and falls. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
- 60% of falls occur on the same level. (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
- 84 workers in the US died in 2008 as a result of same-level falls. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
It's easy to take the subject of falls lightly, but this commonplace accident can be both costly and deadly.
Share these fall prevention tips with your workers to reduce their risk of injury:
- Keep clutter picked up. Common causes of falls are debris, tools and materials on the floor.
- Arrange work spaces so there are clear passages for walking. Remove or cover cords and cables on walking routes. Store boxes of materials away from traffic areas.
- Close desk and cabinet drawers and doors as soon as you use them. Many accidents are caused by tripping over them.
- Keep walking surfaces free of water, oil, mud and ice. Watch especially for slippery surfaces on sidewalks, stairways, in entryways, around machinery, in lunch areas and washrooms.
- Wear footwear which will prevent slipping and tripping. Avoid slippery soles and wear well-fitting, correctly fastened footwear. Special non-slip footwear is available for special work situations.
- Work areas and traffic routes must be well-lit. Report or replace burned out light fixtures. Do not store materials where they will block the light from windows or lighting systems. Keep windows and light fixtures clean. While dim light would ordinarily be considered a contributor to falls, light that is too bright can also create conditions which cause you to fall.
- Stick to established traffic routes. Falls can be caused by taking short-cuts through areas that contain unexpected obstacles.
- If you must walk on a low-friction, slippery surface, take small, deliberate steps.
- Use the handrail on stairways. Never run up or down stairs. Do not store any objects on the stairs and do not permit others to do so.
- Report any walking surface hazards such as obstacles, loose carpet, tile or stair treads.
- Never use makeshift climbing devices. Get a step stool or ladder, and use it properly, if you must reach a higher surface. Don't stand on chairs!
If you do start to fall, you can lessen the impact and prevent injury by:
- Relaxing your muscles
- Doing what you can to protect your head and spine from injury
- Trying to land on a soft, fleshy part of your body
- Rolling in the direction of the fall so that you do not stop all at once
Slips, trips and falls are one of the most common causes of injury in the workplace. To help you educate and protect your workers, Safety Smart! has over a hundred fall-prevention tools, including fatality reports, puzzles, articles and Safety Talks .
Need access to additional resources on this topic? Try SafetySmart today and get immediate access to safety talks, presentations and more. Sign up for a free 14-day trial now. |
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| Plastic buckets are sturdy and readily available, making them an easy, yet very unsafe choice for any worker who doesn’t think it’s worth the effort to set up safe scaffolding or an appropriate ladder. If this bucket shifts, even a short fall backwards could prove fatal for this worker. (Naval Safety Center) |
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| How Going Beyond Mere EHS Compliance Can Yield Financial Benefits |
Cutting edge environmental health and safety (EHS) management goes beyond mere compliance with OHS and environmental laws to embrace more onerous voluntary standards, such as those from ISO and CSA, and independent initiatives.
Although complying with these standards and implementing voluntary programs consume more resources, they also provide the kind of positive ROI that improves the company’s financial performance. At least that’s the argument.
Read more on this topic at OHS Insider.com.
(Note: subscription is required; to get instant access , simply sign up for a No-Obligation Trial of OHSInsider.com. Sign up now and you will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad!)
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| OSHA Releases App Aimed at Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses |
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) wants to help workers avoid heat-related illnesses, so it has released a free application (app) for mobile devices designed to help workers and supervisors monitor the heat index at their worksites.
Available in English and Spanish, the app combines heat index data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with the user’s location to determine necessary protective measures.
It also provides users with information on precautions that can be taken to reduce risks, including drinking fluids, taking rest breaks and adjusting work operations. The app also addresses signs and symptoms of heat stroke, heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses, along with first aid steps that should be taken in an emergency. |
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Related story: Take Steps to Prevent Heat Illness
(Note: Subscription is required. To get instant access, simply sign up for a No-Cost Trial of Safe Supervisor.)
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| Due Diligence: Defining, Establishing & Demonstrating Your Record of Compliance |
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