MONDAY, JULY 14, 2014
Important Safety Information For Business Owners
Most falls on a level surface don't result in a recordable injury but merely a bump, some bruises, or perhaps scattered papers and spilled coffee. But sometimes these falls can cause more serious injuries.
A fall on a level surface can result in broken elbows and knees, fractured ankles and ribs, and even head injuries. In fact, slips, trips and falls on a level surface account for 20 percent of lost-work-time incidents in the United States. And that’s not counting an incident that could involve one of your customers.
You can take simple steps to prevent slips, trips and falls at your place of business.
Steps to Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls
These tips shared by State Auto's Risk Control Services team can help prevent slips, trips and falls for workers, customers and anyone visiting your business:
- Pay attention to high-traffic areas. One of the more common hazards is changes in flooring surfaces, such as from carpet to tile. Try to ensure that walking surfaces are predictable, with good traction.
- Clean up your act. All walking surfaces should be kept free of spills, especially spills of water, oil, slick powders, and any other substance that may make the floor slippery.
- Hang a sign. If people must walk over slick or uneven surfaces, warn them with appropriate signage. Provide temporary signage to warn people of wet or damaged floors.
- Take a report. Encourage your employees to report any hazards they observe that they cannot immediately remove, such as broken tiles or floors that are wet because of roof leaks.
- Light the way. People are more likely to take a misstep when lighting is poor.
- Dry it up. Some areas are prone to moisture. Control slippery hazards in these areas with adequate drainage systems and pumps or elevated walking surfaces. For example, use grated flooring to give people a high-traction work surface while letting moisture fall through.
In addition, take these extra measures to help protect your workers from slips, trips and falls:
- Control the pace. Very few workplaces require employees to run; if it's not necessary, workers should walk.
- Require appropriate footwear. Steel-toed shoes can protect a worker's feet from above, but shoes with proper soles for the workplace protect the whole worker from hazards below. In many workplaces, slip-resistant soles are a good idea; in others, spiked or studded soles provide the best possible traction. Don't permit workers to wear inappropriate shoes.
Workers and Slips, Trips and Falls
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recommends that you look at four factors that can contribute to slip, trip, and fall hazards:
- Worker factors. Workers may create hazards by using equipment improperly—for example, by dragging cords across walkways or setting up ladders in unsafe locations. They also might suffer from fatigue, making them more prone to falls. And workers can engage in risk-taking behaviors that put them at increased risk, such as running in the workplace or carrying large items up or down stairs.
- Machinery/equipment factors. Machinery that is improperly designed or maintained may create slip, trip, and fall hazards. For example, a poorly designed piece of equipment could have projections near the floor that create a tripping hazard; a poorly maintained machine may leak hydraulic fluid, creating a slip hazard.
- Environmental factors. The work environment may include slip and fall hazards. These could be seasonal or weather-related (as when ice forms on sidewalks in winter), or they may result from poor maintenance of the overall environment (as when burned-out light bulbs are not replaced or damaged flooring is not repaired). Some environmental hazards are intermittent. For example, while sprinklers are operating, workers might walk through puddles, track water into the workplace, and leave floors slick.
- Management practices. All of the factors above can be affected positively or negatively by management practices. If management doesn't train workers in basic walking and working surface safety, workers may not report burned-out lights, clean spills quickly, or inspect ladders before each use. If management does not provide adequate staffing or budget for maintenance, machinery and equipment could become unsafe.
Contact R Hobbs Insurance Agency at (847) 680-0888 or chris@rhobbsinsurance.com for additional information or a quote for all your small business insurance needs.
Contact Us!
Illinois and Wisconsin small business owners, at R Hobbs Insurance Agency, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at (847) 680-0888 or send us a note at chris@rhobbsinsurance.com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!
Content Source: State Auto
Posted 11:00 AM
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