# Presentation: 512719

## Langley Slip, Trip, and Fall Awareness Initiative

- Harold W. Beazley
- Safety Manager
- January 4, 2005

## Langley Slip, Trip, and Fall Awareness Initiative

- Begins today with this presentation to the ESC
- The Safety Manager or a representative from the SFAB is available to present this briefing                   to Center personnel upon request at:
- Safety Meetings
- Non-Safety Meetings such as staff meetings
- Tri-fold handout on Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Have a poster available for download
- Banners for the Center Gates
- Banner for the Cafeteria

## Scary Statistics from the CDC* on Slips, Trips, and Falls from 2002

- The number one reason for a trip to the emergency room in 2002 was “Unintentional Fall” for all ages except the 15–24 age group
- In the 15–24 age group, the number one reason was “Unintentional Struck by/Against”
- In the 15–24 age group, “Unintentional Fall” was the number three reason
- 	* Center for Disease Control

## Even Scarier Statistics from the CDC on Slips, Trips, and Falls from 2001

- In the 35-44 age group, the ninth leading cause of Injury Death was “Unintentional Fall” with 647 deaths
- In the 45-54 age group, the fifth leading cause of Injury Death was “Unintentional Fall” with 1024 deaths
- In the 55-64 age group, the third leading cause of Injury Death was “Unintentional Fall” with 1004 deaths
- Most of the LaRC population falls in the 35-64 age group

## Langley Statistics

- Approximately a quarter of our OSHA recordables and First Aid Cases were due to Slips, Trips, and Falls
- More than **40% **of our Lost Time and Restricted Work Injuries were a result of Slips, Trips, and Falls

**Notes:**
FY 04 Statistics - Overall 30% of Injuries were due to Slips, Trips, or Falls

		Total		Slips, Trips, & Falls	%
Lost Time	16			7			44
Restricted	14			6			43
Recordables	27			7			26
First Aid	68			17			25

## LaRC TCIR – FY04

- Overall TCIR - 1.56
- TCIR due to Slips, Trips, & Falls - 0.54
- 35% of our TCIR value is coming from Slips, Trips, and Falls - These are preventable!

## The Langley goal is simple but bold,
“To have no flips due to slips or trips”.
‘Cause having a fall is really no ball,
And with your fate comes an increase in our rate.

- “To have no flips due to slips or trips”.
- ‘Cause having a fall is really no ball,
- And with your fate comes an increase in our rate.

**The** **Langley** **Goal**

## Slide 8

## Safety 101: Types of Falls

- There are two basic types of falls
- Elevated falls
- Same-level falls
- The majority of falls at LaRC are same-level falls with a slip or trip being the root cause.
- Elevated falls at LaRC are primarily due to improper use of a ladder.
- Injuries from falls result from the sudden stop or striking an object or working surface

## Risk Factors

- Common risk factors that increase the probability of a slip, trip or fall are:
- Slippery or uneven surfaces.
- Obstructions, like hoses or cords, stretched across aisles.
- Improper use of ladders and stairs.
- Improper shoes.
- Unsafe behavior, such as horseplay or jumping from high places

## Slip Theory

- Slips are primarily caused by a slippery surface and compounded by the type of  footwear worn.
- In normal walking, two types of slips occur.
- When the heel of the front foot contacts the walking surface and slips forward causing the person to fall backward.
- When the rear foot slips backward.
- The force to move forward is on the sole of the rear foot.
- As the rear heal is lifted and the force moves forward to the front of the sole, the foot slips back and the person falls forward.

## Prevention of Slips

- Awareness and action are the two key ways to counteract slip hazards every day, both on and off the job.
- Slips happen in almost any part of the workplace.
- You should be aware of the possibility of slips, no matter where you work.
- Some surfaces are much more slippery than others.
- Add water, a spilled substance, grease, oil, or even fresh wax or polish to a floor or walking surface, and you increase  the potential for slips and falls.

## Potential Slip Hazards at LaRC 

- Wet Spots
- Don't wait for a small spill to dry itself.
- It only takes a second for a serious accident to happen.
- Loose Flooring
- Use caution when walking over loose tiles, bricks, pavement, carpet or floorboards.
- Check your floors at home and at work.
- Icy Spots
- Spread sand and/or salt on icy walkways during the winter.
- Always walk slowly on any surface.

## Trip Theory

- Trips occur when the front foot strikes an object and is suddenly stopped.
- The upper body continues forward
- A fall occurs.
- As little as a 3/8" rise in a walkway can cause a person to "stub" a toe resulting in a trip and fall.
- The same thing can happen going up a flight of stairs:
- Only a slight difference in the height of steps can cause a person can trip and fall.

## Prevention of Trips at LaRC

- Obstructions that create trip hazards
- Blocked aisle-ways
- Materials not properly stored
- Open drawers
- Unsecured hoses or cords across pathways
- Good housekeeping is everyone’s responsibility.
- You are in the best position to notice, report, and correct conditions that could cause a slip, trip, or fall.

## Potential Trip hazards at LaRC.

- Electrical Cords
- Avoid using extension cords, if possible.
- If you must use one, never place it (or any other cord) in a walking area.
- Materials
- Trip hazards are created by materials stored in hallways and aisles
- Store materials in closets and cabinets.
- Untidy Floors
- Any small things can cause big falls
- A pencil
- A piece of paper or fabric
- A machine part
- Drawers
- Keep them closed
- Many trips have been caused by a drawer that was “only going to be open for a second”.

## Conclusions

- Remain attentive to surroundings
- If it snowed, there are likely to be icy patches
- If it rained, entrance ways are likely to be wet and slippery
- Watch out for spills
- Clean them up
- Place a cone or other alerting device to ensure that others see the hazard
- Call 4ROME to have someone clean it up
- If you see something that could cause a slip or trip, report it to your supervisor, to ROME, and/or the SFAB
- With everyone’s help, we can meet the LaRC goal of “No flips due to slips or trips.”