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September 2020
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Inside the September 2020 Issue |
Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention
ID Hazards, Remove or Make Them Visible
The simplest way to prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace is to develop a risk management plan that identifies, assesses, controls and monitors safety hazards and risks.
The following safety bulletin from the Pulp and Paper Safety Association, together with risk, management tools will help you develop a risk management plan and record your assessments.
Identifying hazards is the first step to
determine exactly where slips, trips and
falls can or have occurred in your workplace.
You can find out this information
by talking to workers and supervisors, inspecting
the premises, and reviewing
records such as incident and injury reports
as well as workers’ compensation
claims.
Another useful method is to sketch a layout of the work area and mark on it where slip and trip incidents or hazards have been reported.
Assess the risk
According to the PPSA, the next step is
to assess the slip or trip risks. Usually it is a combination of factors that create the
risk. As part of your assessment you
should also consider:
• How many people are exposed;
• The consequences of the slip or trip – a
slip or trip with or without a fall can be
more serious if it occurs near hot, sharp
or moving objects, or at a height, such as
near stairs;
• How often the situation occurs.
Look at the assessed risks and decide what needs to be done to eliminate or reduce the risks and how quickly these measures need to be implemented. There are six types of control strategies to eliminate or reduce the risks and they are listed below in order of their effectiveness.
There are various factors that contribute to the risk of slips and trips. Slips usually occur when there is a loss of grip between the shoe and the floor. This commonly occurs when there is a contaminant between the shoe and the floor. Trips occur when a person’s foot hits a low obstacle in the person’s path, causing a loss of balance. Often, the obstacle is not easily visible or noticed.
The following factors can contribute to
the risk of slips and trips. It is usually a
combination of these factors that create
the risk of a slip or trip.
Floor Contaminants
Contaminants can be considered anything
that ends up on a floor. Contaminants
can be wet such as water, oil or
grease, or dry such as dust, metal shavings,
plastic bags or off-cuts. Preventing
floor contaminants is one of the best
things you can do to prevent slips.
Floor surfaces
Floor surfaces require sufficient grip to
prevent slipping, especially in areas
which may become wet or contaminated.
The greater the thickness or viscosity of
the contaminants, the greater the slip resistance
of the flooring required to protect
against slipping.
Cleaning
Cleaning affects every workplace and
everyone in the workplace. Besides regular
cleaning programs, everyone has a
role keeping the work area clear and taking
responsibility for their own spills.
Floors need to be cleaned properly to
ensure that:
• Contaminants are effectively removed;
• A buildup of cleaning product residue
is avoided;
• The floor does not become too slippery;
• Floors maintain slip resistant properties
(of non-slip flooring).
today's news
AmEx Develops Health, Safety Protocols for Airport Lounges
NEW YORK -- American Express has plans to expand two of its airport Centurion Lounges and introduced The Centurion Lounge Commitment, a set of new health and safety protocols and practices, to be implemented in all Centurion Lounges as they reopen (some starting in early October).
ACI Toolkit Provides Critical Cleaning, Hygiene Support for Schools
WASHINGTON -- As school systems assess and reassess reopening, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) unveiled a new toolkit on proper hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting protocols to help keep the school community healthy and safe.
Jones and Edward Hubbard Join Green Seal Board of Directors
WASHINGTON -- Green Seal has announced that Jim Jones, previously assistant administrator at the EPA, and Edward Hubbard Jr., general counsel for the Renewable Fuels Association, have been elected to Green Seal’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Carrier Facilities First WELL Health-Safety Rated Workplace in China
NEW YORK -- Carrier, a provider of heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, and its subsidiary EMSI, are the first organizations in China to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management.
IREM Joins Realtors in White House Meeting on Eviction Ban
CHICAGO -- IREM executives joined a group of representatives from the National Association of REALTORS in a meeting with White House officials on Wednesday, September 16 to address concerns over the September 1 executive action halting evictions through 2020.
Zep Granted EPA Acceptance of Three Disinfectants for COVID-19
ATLANTA -- Zep Inc., a developer of maintenance, cleaning and sanitation solutions for food & beverage, industrial & institutional customers, has received confirmation from the EPA that its three cleaning and disinfecting products protect against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
