Training For Trips And Tumbles

According to the Department of Labor (DOL) falls at work are a major cause of death, triggering eight per cent of occupational fatalities from trauma. The dominance of such injuries is elicited through risks posed by equipment, practices, and unsafe surroundings, such as slippery surfaces. All such hazards require programs involving fall protection training and education.

One of the most affected industry from falls is the construction industry. The most commonly injured part of the body in these incidents is the back. This high number of injuries has been associated with faulty equipment, human error, and systems.

Such injuries result in loss of time and workers. Some falls, such as involving a Vancouver letter carrier, resulted in death following slipping on ice. On 28 November 2006, Robert Jones fell to the ground and hit his head and lower back while delivering mail. He died two days later after experiencing headaches, vomiting, and disorientation. According to the Workplace Health and Safety Branch of Manitoba Labor, falls are responsible for 15 per cent of lost-time injuries and accidents at work. Competent approaches can eliminate potential risks and increase safety at work.

Through the assessment of falls, damage to our body can be prevented. Various categories of falls render different approaches to safe practices. Slipping is mostly caused by the slippery surface as well as unsafe footwear. The combination of surface and the type of soles worn results in a certain amount of friction, or a lack of it. The most safe is slip-resistant footwear and dry walking surfaces. Icy, oily, or wet surfaces have low coefficient friction. Even leather soles can have low friction on ceramic tile or ice. When spills are likely, non-skid strips or floor coatings should be used. A very slippery surface can cause slips even when using the safest footwear.

Trips involve striking an object with the foot in such a way that it stops the body, which is thrown forward. Most often such falls occur when walkways have rises even as little as 3/8” or stairs have steps with different heights.  Behaviors responsible for tripping involve fast walking or running when being on edge, changing direction, distractions, or anything that obstructs one’s view, such as large materials or sunglasses. Bad habits need to be reformed into new behaviors rather than simply more instruction.

Other behavior that can trigger tumbles and trips involves handling of equipment, such as ladder, which needs to be placed at the right angle. At least three limbs need to be in contact with the ladder at all times, such as one hand and two feet, or two hands and one feet can reduce the risk of falling. The same principle can be used when getting in and out of trucks or other vehicles.

When working on high elevations, protective devices, such as protective cages, lifelines, safety belts or harnesses should be used in such as way that they assure convenience and don’t restrict movements. Suppliers of safety equipment can provide personal guidance the use of such equipment.

If falling cannot be prevented there are certain practices that can reduce the severity of such an incident. They involve tucking the chin, turning the head, and throwing an arm up. It is most important that the head is protected. The body needs to be twisted to the side in such way that landing is on the buttocks and side rather than on the back. Wrists, elbows, and knees need to be bent while hands or elbows are not used to break the fall. When the overall surface contact is bigger it allows for spreading of the impact of the fall. 

In martial arts similar guidelines are used to eliminate dangers associated with falls, such as broken arms and collar bones. As the biggest danger involves hitting the head, forearms should take the impact which should include learning how to roll. With hands palm down, fingers turned inwards to avoid breaking wrists, muscles should be eased and vital areas of the body kept off the ground.

Fall protection training may be insufficient to prevent all falls, but it is crucial to create a safe working environment. Certifications, such as provided by Construction Supply Inc., can save lives and money. Proactive measures that eliminate hazards, equipment maintenance, and confidence when avoiding unnecessary risks as well as the ability to recognize unsafe situations are needed. Fall protection training is only one of the steps to ensure safe working practices.

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