Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Anna Hayford
- Sep 1, 2020
- 2 min read
Trip and Fall Incidents
Slips, trips and falls happen more often than you think. Over the past few years, several slips, trips and falls have occurred while on Isett time that have ranged in severity and impact.
A few years ago, an Isett associate fell and hurt their shoulder which did not result in lost time but did require physical therapy.
Similarly, an Isett associate twisted their knee which resulted in a short time off of work and time away from some physical activities.
Finally, an Isett associate fell on a job site and sustained a serious back injury that resulted in emergency medical attention and lost time from work.
All of these injuries were sustained facing everyday hazards. It goes to show that no one is immune to a slip, trip or fall, on and off the jobsite.
Some of these types of injuries are considered OSHA recordable.
Slips, Trips and Falls Statistics
Slips, trips and falls are frequent causes of accidents both on and off the job.
According to OSHA, slip, trips and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents and commonly result in back injuries, strains and sprains, contusions and fractures. Additionally, they cause 15% of all accidental deaths, second only to motor vehicle as a cause of fatalities.
Key Points to Remember
Focus on where you’re going, what you’re doing and what lies ahead.
Refrain from talking and texting when walking.
Use handrails on stairs.
Use three points of contact on ladders.
Take care when getting into and out of vehicles.
Wear the right footwear for the job ahead.
Avoid baggy, loose or torn clothing that could cause you to get caught up and trip.
Watch out for floors that are uneven, have holes, are wet, have just been cleaned, or have torn carpeting, etc.
When carrying loads ensure that you have good visibility of the surface and surrounds in front of you.
Check the landscape and be aware of uneven surfaces and slippery conditions.
Use a flashlight if the area is dark and you can’t see the path ahead.
Slow down.
Fall is right around the corner. Be cautious driving or walking on wet leaves as these pose a large slip hazard.
