With June being National Safety Month – now is a great time to make sure your employees are up to date with fall prevention awareness and training.

Fatalities caused by falls continue to be a top cause of death for US industrial and construction employees. According to the US Department of Labor, 15% of all accidental deaths and 25% of all reported injury claims are due to slips and falls, resulting in lost lives and 95 million lost workdays each year.

Did you know that:

• 5% of men and 11% of women who suffer a workplace fall will die from their injuries.
• 22% of patients who have a slip and fall accident require more than 31 days away from work.
• Slick floors are the main cause of injury in 85% of workers’ compensation claims.

Some of the common situations that can cause slip and fall accidents include: greasy, wet, powdery or freshly waxed floors; loose flooring; uneven surfaces; clutter; wet, muddy or greasy shoes; weather hazards (e.g., ice, pine needles, sleet, wet leaves); tripping over electrical cords or computer cables; desk or filing cabinet drawers left open; lack of handrails on steps; damaged or uneven steps.

What are the best ways to prevent slip and falls at work?

• Practice excellent housekeeping techniques: sweep, vacuum, organize, nail down and secure. A well-organized and clean work environment isn’t just pleasant – it’s also much safer.
• Wear proper shoes: When purchasing shoes, look for the type of sole that corresponds with the floor on which you spend the majority of your workday.
• Maintain proper lighting: Keep all areas well lit, and quickly replace any bulbs that are burned out or not working.
• Eliminate slippery surfaces: Someone at your company should be responsible for checking floors and surfaces on a regular basis to ensure that spills are cleaned up immediately. In inclement weather, monitor entryways and walkways for potential hazards.

Training & Awareness 

In addition to ensuring good housekeeping and proper PPE, consider holding a voluntary OSHA Safety Stand-Down event. While these typically take place in the month of May, you can hold a Safety Stand-Down event anytime to leverage the opportunity to inspect safety equipment, develop rescue plans and spend dedicated time recognizing and correcting hazards at your site. It’s also a great time to raise fall prevention awareness with open discussions about job-specific hazards.

This week at Cyanco, we focused on developing rescue plans for working at height, with a training session specific to rope rescue. We reviewed the numerous steps involved from the initial response to the incident’s conclusion with the victim brought to safety.

Proper training – from hazard recognition to emergency response – is critical to keeping your people safe. If you’re interested in learning more about Cyanco’s training programs, please visit:

https://cyanco.com/safety-sustainability/

Be sure to check out tomorrow’s post on promoting electrical safety.