Most slips, trips, and falls can be prevented through good housekeeping, maintenance and awareness of walking surfaces and their condition. It is everyone’s responsibility to keep their work area neat and hazard free. You would want others to report potential hazards that could injure you, so do the same for them. Here are some tips on preventing slips, trips, and falls.
1. If you notice water on the floor from roof leak or if during floor maintenance and while stripping or applying wax, be sure to place a “Caution -- Wet Floor” sign around the affected area. Wet floors create slippery conditions. They also coat shoe soles with moisture.
Thomas A. Steitz Hall of Science - example of caution signs placed by leak. Use containers to catch most of the water. 2. Aisles and work areas should be cleared immediately of any boxes, cartons, carts, or other material as soon as possible. Each individual must accept responsibility for safe housekeeping.
3. If you notice defects in the floor, such as broken tile, cracked cement, or loose carpet seams, report these to management so that they can be corrected. If you notice a spill, wipe it up immediately to prevent yourself or others from slipping and falling. Pick up any material that could cause a fall.
4. If you notice hazards outside, such as holes in the sidewalk, obstructions or other stumbling hazards, report them so that they can be properly maintained.
Warning cones are placed by hazard until repairs can be made.
Before concrete repair. After concrete repair. 5. Good lighting should be provided throughout the facility. If you notice lights that do not work or light bulbs that need changing, please report these so that they can be repaired.
6. If the floor is wet and slippery from cleaning or due to the weather, signs should be posted warning employees of these conditions.
7. Extension cords or other electrical wires should not be strung across walkways but properly positioned to prevent trips.
8. Each employee is responsible to choose and maintain appropriate and slip resistant foot wear.
9. Use handrails when using building stairways, and use an elevator if one is available when carrying anything with both hands.
10. Take your time when descending stairs, take one step at a time, keeping a free hand close to the rail, and be ready to grab the rail if you miss a step.
Remember accidents do not just happen, they are caused. Very often they begin with hazardous conditions. So if you spot a safety hazard, correct it or report it at once. In the long run, it is easier to report a hazard than an accident.
EXTERIOR WALKWAYS AND PAVEMENTS:
1. Lawrence University strives to keep outside walkways, sidewalks and pavements in good condition. Potholes, cracks, obstructions, projections and other types of potential trip hazards should be reported to your Supervisor, regardless of where on campus premises these problems are discovered.
Ormsby Hall front steps posted with warning signs and blocked off with caution tape until repairs could be made. 2. Cleaning of walkways minimizes the amount of dirt, sand or grit on the parking lot, sidewalks, outside steps, porches and paved approaches to entrances. Cleaning walkways on the outside and inside of entrances is fundamental to slip and fall prevention because it helps prevent slippery material like dirt, sand, water and ice from being tracked inside.
3. Spills and potentially hazardous accumulations on exterior walkways and pavements, when reported, will be cleaned by sweeping, mopping, wet washing or other appropriate means in a timely manner.
4. Removal and/or control of snow and ice build-up is critical during winter months. Do not forget about clearing emergency exit door discharge areas.
5. The Grounds crew uses special equipment to remove as much of the snow as possible, and after they finish making multiple passes, the sidewalks are much safer to walk on. There are still areas that may refreeze and become slippery, or another storm may dump snow on an area that was just cleared. Take smaller and slower steps to keep you center of gravity. Think of how the penguins shuffle across snow covered ice without falling.
Snow removal on the Main Green sidewalks. Trackless with plow attachment clearing sidewalks.
Cleaning walkways in front of Seelee G. Mudd Library. 6. The Custodial crew uses snow throwers, shovels and ice scrapers to remove as much of the snow as possible for sidewalks and porches on buildings, they perform a valuable step by making the sidewalks and porches safer to walk on.
Cleaning off snow thrower by the Wriston Art Center. Chipping off ice and snow by the steps to Shattuck Hall of Music.
WALKWAYS, LANDINGS AND FLOORS AT ENTRANCES:
1. On the inside, the initial 5-10 feet is a critical area for regular floor maintenance. People and equipment entering may bring in oil, grit, dirt and moisture. This must be controlled immediately. In some areas walk-off mats are provided on the inside of these entrances. The mats serve to wipe off and remove moisture picked up outside. The cleaner the shoe, the less chance for a slip and fall. Walk-off mats should be long enough for 2 or 3 normal strides and wide enough to cover entire entrance.
2. Frequent cleaning and maintenance of walk-off mats is critical. This keeps them from becoming overloaded with dirt, sand, moisture and oil. A mat that is “overloaded” cannot perform its footwear cleaning function. An “overload” mat is worse than no mat at all.
Daily maintenance may include vacuuming, or shaking the mat and cleaning the residue.
A clean surface under the mat is very important. A dirty back can cause mat to slip or bunch up and cause a tripping hazard.
3. Where mats are not used, be sure that entrances are kept clean and are not slippery. The same care should be given to aisles and walkways inside the facility since they have heavy foot traffic. Remember that dirt, grease and oil residue can build up quickly on heavy traffic aisles.
.JPG)
