Slips and Falls

Slippery surfaces, improper footwear, inadequate hazard identification, insufficient training, inattentiveness and construction deficiencies are all causes of slip and fall accidents on construction sites. These accidents can lead to any number of serious injuries, including fractures, sprains, and head, neck and spinal injuries. Proper training and hazard awareness and rectification can help prevent these injuries from occurring in the workplace.

Hazard analysis and identification should be practiced regularly at construction sites. Measures to control hazards should be implemented and all devices used in hazard prevention should be inspected regularly for weaknesses and defects. Personal fall arrest systems are used to stop a person from falling from a working level and may involve several different configurations and elements. Each fall arrest system depends on the task and work environment.

Keeping the work site free of debris and unused equipment can also greatly reduce the potential to slip, trip or fall. Scraps of metal, wood and rags should be cleared regularly from the site several times a day and whenever a specific task has been completed. Particular attention should be paid to combustible scraps as they must be deposited immediately in designated containers.

Boots with rubber soles and good treads greatly reduce the probability of slippage, and good lighting and well-maintained floors with non-slip coatings also prevent accidents.

Ladders are a particularly dangerous site of slips and falls, so all construction workers must know the features and limitations of different kinds of ladders. When selecting a ladder for a job, it is important to keep in mind the ladder's duty rating, maximum working height and conductivity. Ladders should fit the size of the job, extending three feet beyond the roofline, and be placed at the appropriate angle to prevent movement and maintain balance. A ladder's base should be placed one foot away from the vertical support for every four feet of ladder height.

Ladders should always be checked for cracks, loose rungs and broken safety devices before use. A ladder leveler should be used when working on uneven ground, and spikes should be used to secure a ladder to soft ground, such as dirt and grass. A worker should always maintain three points of contact with a ladder at all times and use a tool belt to carry tools and supplies.

Fall protection, such as cages, wells, or other ladder safety devices, is required on fixed ladders that are longer than 20 feet. Fall protection should also be used if both hands are needed to perform a job or if a worker has to stay in one place for an extended amount of time.

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