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Safety Article #1
Slips, Trips and Falls
Larry Casey
Labor Education Service
University of Minnesota
A vast majority of injuries which take place at a construction site occur because of a slip, trip or fall. New construction is littered with scraps of wood, sheetrock, pipe, wire, bricks, concrete blocks and dozens of other forms of rubbish. These pieces of debris are part of the nature of the industry. While OSHA maintains general industry regulations on walking/working surfaces that guard against hazards, there does not appear to be any significant standards for the construction industry. There are no formal training requirements in general industry or construction.
Slips can be caused by wet surfaces, spills or weather hazards like ice and snow. Slips are more likely to occur when you hurry or run in an effort to save time and contractor money. Wearing the wrong kind of shoes with poorly designed soles increase your chance of injury. Slips can be minimized by following these safety precautions:
§ Clean up spills right away or contact the general contractor. Even minor spills can be hazardous and slips are almost always sudden.
§ Don’t let grease or oil accumulate at your jobsite.
§ Be extra cautious on smooth surfaces such as newly tiled floors and surfaces that have been waxed.
Trips occur whenever your foot hits an object and you are moving with enough momentum to be thrown off balance. With the materials, tools and ladders handled by trade workers throughout the day, tripping hazards are ever present. Trips are also more likely to happen when you are in a hurry and may not be as focused as possible to the hazards of most jobs. Remember these rules to avoid tripping:
§ Carry only loads that you can see over.
§ Keep work areas well lit and clean.
§ Store materials and tools in the roper gang boxes or storage areas.
§ Keep working areas clean of extension cords.
Falls account for 31% of all deaths in construction. Many falls occur from 4-8 foot stepladders. At all costs you should avoid stepping on the top of any stepladder. Be sure to use an appropriate well-marked ladder. Only accept OSHA approved ladders that are of a “commercial” grade or better. Avoid “utility” or “medium” grade ladders. Even if you meet the weight requirements the tools and the materials you carry can easily add another 50 pounds or more putting each rung of the ladder under stress.
Carefully inspect all ladders when they are delivered to the workplace. Be especially mindful of ladders, which have been around for a long time and look “fatigued”. Inspect all the rungs for splits and tighten all the hardware that supports the individual steps. A little precaution and time can go a long way in preventing a fall at work.
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