Facility Safety Management --The Source for Workplace Safety

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Safety Storage

Where Do They Happen?
Prevent Slip & Falls By Identifying the Areas They Occur

Slip and fall accidents cost companies and municipalities millions of dollars a year and are very common. According to the National Safety Council slip and falls are the second most costly type of worker’s compensation claim, averaging $20,228.

Slip and fall accidents can also be fatal. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 700 people a year die from falling. Finding the areas that most commonly lead to these accidents is the first step in preventing them.

In a white paper titled, “Where do Slip and Falls Happen,” Slip Not, a manufacturer of slip resistant metal safety flooring, says many accidents occur when stairways are covered with water, oil, grime or other slippery substances. Worn wood, diamond plate, plastic or metal stairs can become opportunities for disaster. Slip resistant metal stair treads can easily be installed over existing stairways to prevent slip and fall accidents. They are long lasting and durable. Many stair treads can be welded into place, or can be attached with countersunk screws.

Replacing the nosing on the stair may be another viable option. Non slip metal stair nosings are an attractive solution to any slippery stair way. Metal nosings can be attached to existing treads by bolting or welding them on. To develop and implement a slip and fall prevention program, SlipNot suggests the following:

Identifying Problem Areas
• Get employees involved with this project. They are the ones working in the field; they know where there are small hazards and large hazards.
• Survey the area to make sure that all problem areas are addressed: stairways, ladders, platforms, drainage areas, entrance ramps, handrails, walkways, around machinery, etc.
Develop Solutions for Correcting these Problem Areas
• We also suggest getting your employees involved in this process. They may have very good ideas on how to correct the areas they frequent.

Consult a Safety Professional
• Find a company that will assess and help solve safety issues within a facility or location. They may be able to walk you through the entire process.

Invite a Safety Representative to Assess Problem Areas
• We think that it is helpful to ask the safety professional to physically visit your facility. Show them the list of problem areas that you and your employees found, and ask them to assess your findings and make further suggestions.

Research your Options
• A safety professional may suggest completely replacing a work platform, which may not be feasible. Check into other options, such as retrofitting a product over your existing platform for added safety at a more economical price.
• Make sure the suggestions make sense for your company.

Talk to Other Companies
• We suggest taking a look at other company’s safety programs. You can keep a look on the internet and in magazines for companies that are doing a great job with safety. If they are not a competitor, contact them and see if they could give any suggestions.

Make Sure your Plan is Compliant with OSHA and ADA Standards

• Both OSHA and ADA have suggestions and standards when it comes to safety. Research what they are and make sure that your new plan meets their suggestions.

Conduct Training and Educational Programs for Employees

• We suggest making sure that your employees know exactly what your new safety plan is. Keep them involved in the process and implementation of the safety plan.

Falls that happen from ladders can be very serious. Whether the ladder has a slippery substance on it, or the worker is trying to carry too much, the result can be fatal.

Making the ladder rungs slip resistant will prevent feet or hands from slipping off the rungs. Slip resistant metal ladder rung covers that fit directly over the existing ladder rungs are a cost effective solution to making ladders safer.

Metal rung covers can be welded onto slippery rungs easily renewing safety.

If a new ladder is being built, slip resistant metal rungs can be welded into the new construction. Non-slip metal rungs and rung covers can be purchased in stock lengths, or cut to specific sizes. From the food processing industry to the automobile industry; worker platforms, walkways and catwalks can become covered with water, oil, cleaning materials or other slippery substances, creating dangerous situations for workers.

It is important that companies and municipalities take the proper steps to avoid slip and fall accidents that lead to injury or even fatality. Proper examination of danger areas followed by investment in slip resistant materials is a necessary precaution.

Slip resistant metal products can also help on ground and floor surfaces along accessible routes and in accessible rooms and spaces including floors, walks, ramps, stairs, and curb ramps, that must be ADA compliant.

There are many products that help companies become ADA compliant. Companies can chose to make small improvements that are as simple as tape on products that must be replaced often, or companies can make a long term investment in the safety of their customers and employees.

The best, longest lasting ADA compliant product for commercial and industrial facilities may be slip resistant metal products. These metal products can be either retrofitted over existing stairways, ramps, catwalks and platforms, or can be welded or bolted down into new construction.

Slip resistant metal plates are a great option for slippery ramps leading up to buildings. If properly cared for, they ensure that wheelchairs and crutches won’t slip in wet conditions. Slip resistant metal nosings or treads are an easy fix to any high traffic slippery stairway. Slip and falls from stairways can be very dangerous and life threatening.

Slip resistant drains are extremely important in parking lots and areas that get a lot of foot traffic. Slip resistant metal products exceed the ADA recommendation for COF for non-slip surfaces. They are very durable and long lasting. They keep people on their feet and don’t need to be replaced. FSM For more information on slip resistant metal products go to www.slipnot.com.