Are there any special considerations when dealing with slips and falls on icy surfaces or wet floors?

On icy, wet and oily surfaces, the COF is low with non-slip shoes. A high COF is needed for good traction and stable movement. Keeping walking and working surfaces clean and dry and wearing non-slip shoes are the keys to preventing slips and subsequent falls and injuries. Proper cleaning, well-designed traffic patterns and the use of abrasive and non-slip surface coatings will reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls.

By learning to fall naturally, the goal is not to slip, stumble and fall; however, there is still the possibility of a fall. Special attention should be paid to walking, carrying, climbing and descending stairs, vehicles and equipment properly.

Slips and falls

Slips are mainly due to a slippery surface and are aggravated by wearing the wrong footwear. All slips, trips and falls, with or without injuries, must be reported, recorded and thoroughly investigated.

Providing dry surfaces for walking and working and non-slip footwear is the answer to slips and to the resulting falls and injuries. Falls from vehicles and equipment Death or serious injuries are often the result of more passengers falling off tractors, equipment, or the platform of a truck. A second type of step and fall occurs when one steps forward or down, and the inner or outer part of the foot lands on an object higher than the other side. Add to that personal and family costs and trauma, and it's clear that slips, trips and falls must be avoided.

Metal coupling plates can wear out smoothly and become very slippery; in particular, the edge of a coupling plate causes trips and falls. Fall protection devices Workers who are in elevated areas, such as ladders, platforms, or walkways, should protect themselves against falls with some type of fall protection device. In general, slips and trips occur due to a loss of traction between the shoe and the walking surface or inadvertent contact with a fixed or moving object that can cause a fall. In addition, 32 percent of all high falls in Florida agriculture were due to ladders, while 25 percent were due to vehicles and other mobile equipment.

Slips, trips and falls, whether on or off the job, are costly, annoying, painful and can be tragic. In general, high falls are less common but more serious than falls of the same level in the workplace. As the back heel is lifted and the force moves to the front of the sole, the foot slips backwards and the person falls.

Denise Sheperd
Denise Sheperd

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