The last week in September marked Fall Prevention Awareness Week, an important observance because falls are among the leading causes of workplace injuries. If you think of workplace falls being associated with ladders and construction sites, you’re not wrong, but on-the-job accidents happen in a much wider variety of ways and are a danger in any industry.
Let’s take a look at common issues around workplace slips and falls, and how best to prevent them.
Yes, ladders are a primary source of workplace (and home) injuries, and many of those result from improper use. If your business involves the use of ladders and/or scaffolding, make sure your personnel are properly trained, and equipped with not only the proper type of ladder for the task, but appropriate footwear. For roofing and certain other work, harnesses and other fall protection equipment are a must.
Slips and falls, however, can happen in any work setting, not just on construction sites. Construction accounted for about half of the more than 450,000 slip, trip and fall workplace injuries in 2022, and those injuries resulted in workers missing an average of 38 days, according to the National Safety Council. Needless to say, injuries of this nature have a direct impact on productivity, workers’ compensation costs, and possible fines or disciplinary action from OSHA.
To help prevent slip, trip and fall injuries:
Reduce clutter: Keep floors and work surfaces free of spills, debris and other materials. Insist on proper storage of materials and equipment when not in use.
Keep the lights on: Adequate lighting is a vital component of workplace safety. Make sure lighting is sufficient not only in workspaces, but in stairwells and hallways. Promptly replace any non-working light bulbs.
Avoid slips: If the workplace has areas prone to moisture, or just flooring surfaces that lack traction, install non-slip mats or flooring treatments. Use floor signs to call attention to any wet or slippery areas.
Train and educate: The entire workforce should be educated in the hazards unique to your industry or workplace, and that training should be refreshed on a regular basis.
Organizations that make the effort to establish and maintain a culture of safety tend to have not only fewer slip and fall injuries, but fewer injuries of any kind.
Questions about this or other workplace safety issues? Contact Heart to Beat.