Page 66 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2018

SLIP & FALL
to make sure that outdoor lighting is functional and adequate in all outdoor areas.
Maintain Mops, Fans, Shovels and Snowmelt
Rain, snow, and ice can cause indoor and outdoor walking surfaces to become slippery. Controlling inclement weather isn’t possible, but being prepared for it is. Like stocking fuses, bolts, and hoses; keeping shovels, snow melt, mops, buckets, floor fans, extra en- trance matting, or any other items that are routinely used to clear walkways and keep floors clean and dry in stock and ready for use will reduce the chance of injuries in these areas.
Schedule maintenance for snow removal equipment in the summer or early fall before it will be needed. Service other rou- tinely used maintenance equipment regularly so that it is always ready. Inventory mops and shovels semi-annually to make sure that there are an adequate number available. Consider improve- ment such as canopies over entrances to limit the amount of rain or snow that enters the building and absorbent entrance matting to keep entrances and lobbies cleaner and drier.
Check Roofs and Ceilings
Because gravity is a law of nature, leaks from roofs will eventually end up on the floor, creating a slippery puddle. Likewise, leaks and condensation from pipes that are concealed above ceiling tiles will also eventually drip. Evaluating these areas at least annually—or more often in areas where tornadoes and hurricanes are com-
mon—can identify the need for repairs.
The buckets, cans, and pails used to collect roof and ceiling
leaks and drips can also cause problems. If the collection con- tainers are small, they may not be seen, causing a trip hazard. If they are not emptied regularly, they can cause odor and indoor air quality problems.
If timely repairs cannot be made before or immediately after leaks occur, stocking wet floor signs, barricades, roof leak divert- ing tarps, and quick repair kits can temporarily fix or guard these hazards until full repairs can be made.
Plan for Leaks, Drips and Spills
Leaks and spills can happen anywhere liquids are present. Produc- tion areas, warehouses, loading docks, waste collection rooms, flu- id dispensing stations, cafeterias, and bathrooms are all examples.
Keeping stocked spill kits in each of these areas allows employ- ees to quickly respond to larger spills. But a common problem is that employees will use the absorbents and tools stocked in the spill kits for daily use. Using tamper-evident seals on the contain- ers used to store spill response items can serve as a reminder that these items are to be reserved for spills. They also facilitate routine inspections by providing a quick indication of whether or not the container needs to be checked and restocked.
To keep employees from using spill kit contents, stock wipes, absorbent mats and socks, squeegees, mops, and other items in the areas where leaks, drips, spills, and overspray are likely to occur so that everyone has ready access to these daily-use items they need to keep floors clean and dry. This also helps to prevent people from leaving the mess for someone else because it is not convenient to go gather the necessary tools to clean it up.
Make Trash and Recycling Receptacles Available
If finding a trash can or recycling bin takes time, or they aren’t readily available, employees may be more likely to let clutter and waste accumulate on floors or in aisles. This can create slip, trip, and fall hazards throughout the facility. Dedicating space for waste cans and recycling bins in each work area and ensuring that they are adequately sized can help avoid this.
Most of these preventative maintenance techniques can be rolled into routine good housekeeping plans. Others can be incor- porated into regular and periodic safety inspections. Scheduling these best practices will help prevent painful and costly slip, trip, and fall injuries.
Karen D. Hamel, CSP, WACH, is a regulatory compliance profes- sional, trainer, and technical writer for New Pig. She has more than 22 years of experience helping EHS professionals find solutions to meet EPA, OSHA, and DOT regulations and has had more than 100 articles published on a variety of EHS topics. She is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP,) Walkway Auditor Certificate Holder (WACH,) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trainer, hazmat technician, serves on the Blair County, PA LEPC, and has completed a variety of environmental, safety, emergency response, DOT and NIMS courses, including Planning Section Chief. She has conducted seminars at national conferences and webinars for ASSE and other national organizations. She can be reached at 1-800-HOT-HOGS® (468-4647) or by email, karenh@newpig.com.
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