The Importance of Fall Safety

10/15/2019

by Jim Wirth

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), most general industry incidents involve slips, trips, and falls. They cause 15 percent of all accidental deaths, and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities. The OSHA standards for walking/working surfaces apply to all permanent places of employment except where only domestic, mining, or agricultural work is performed. Slips and trips can result in falls, possibly disability or death as reported in 2016 by National Safety Council, “fall from the same level,” (134 deaths) and, “fall to lower level,” (697 deaths) were the second and third highest injury causes of disabling workplace injuries in 2018.  (***Ohio’s Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP) has incorporated by reference all Federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) standards.)

What are the leading causes of slips, trips and falls in the workplace? Slips can occur when floors or other working surfaces become slippery due to wet or oily processes. This includes floor cleaning, leaks, or from materials and debris left in walkways and halls. Uneven floor or working surfaces can lead to trips. This may include protruding nails and boards, bunched floor mats or uneven carpeting, holes or depressions in working surfaces, and also step-risers on stairs that are not uniform in height. Both slips and trips can result in falls, which can occur when ladders are not maintained properly, and when stairways and elevated working surfaces are not designed properly.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

• There are two types of falls – elevated falls and same-level falls;
• 65 percent of fall-related injuries occur as a result of falls from same-level walking surfaces;
• The services, wholesale, and retail trade industries together accounted for over 60 percent of injuries that resulted from same level falls;
• The manufacturing sector alone accounted for 16 percent of injuries that resulted from same-level falls;
• While same-level falls are more common, elevated falls are often the most serious and cause more severe injuries to a fewer number of people;
• Over 60 percent of all elevated falls are from a height of less than 10 feet;
• Over one million Americans suffer a slip, trip, and fall injury every year;
• An estimated 20 – 30 percent of people who experience a slip and fall will suffer moderate to severe injuries such as bruises, hip fractures, or head injuries;
• The most common fractures that occur from slip and fall accidents are fractures are of the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand;
• Slip and fall accidents are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and these account for 46 percent of fatal falls among older Americans;
• Slips, trips and fall accidents can also cause other complications including: Death, Incapacitation, Broken bones and fractures, Long-term medical complications, Head trauma and Spinal cord injuries;
• 1 in 6 of all lost-time work injuries result from slips, trips and falls;
• Slips, trips and fall injuries make up almost 20 percent of all job-related injuries;
• It is estimated that these injuries result in an average of 11 days away from work;
• Approximately 19,565 people die in the U.S. annually due to injuries caused by unintentional falls; 
• According to OSHA, slips, trips and falls cause 15 percent of all accidental deaths;
• Slips, trips and fall injuries account for between 12 and 15 percent of all Workers' Compensation expenses;
• Slips, trip and fall injuries cost employers approximately $40,000 per incident; 

Whether working from a ladder, roof or scaffolding, it's important to plan ahead, assess the risk and use the right equipment:

1. ​First, determine if working from a height is absolutely necessary or if there is another way to do the task safely;
2. Discuss the task with workers and determine what safety equipment is needed;
3. Ensure classrooms have easy access to adequate stepstools;
4. Make sure workers are properly trained on how to use the equipment;
5. Scan the work area for potential hazards before starting the job;
6. Make sure there is level ground to set up the equipment;
7. If working outside, check the weather forecast; never work in inclement weather;
8. Use the correct tool for the job, and use it as intended;
9. Ensure stepladders have a locking device to hold the front and back open;
10. Always keep two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand on the ladder;
11. Place the ladder on a solid surface and never lean it against an unstable surface;
12. A straight or extension ladder should be 1 foot away from the surface it rests on for every 4 feet of height and extend at least 3 feet over the top edge;
13. Securely fasten straight and extension ladders to an upper support;
14. Wear slip-resistant shoes and don't stand higher than the third rung from the top;
15. Don't lean or reach while on a ladder, and have someone support the bottom;
16. Never use old or damaged equipment; check thoroughly before use.

For more information please contact Jim Wirth 614.827.0370 or jim.wirth@careworkscomp.com.