Fall Protection Tips for Slipping and Tripping
Fall protection is one of the most important ways that every job site and construction management company should protect the employees working there.
Construction safety is paramount throughout the year, and fall protection is one of the most important ways that every job site and construction management company should protect the employees working there. Slipping and tripping are some of the most dangerous things that can occur on a job site, but there are many different precautions you can take to make your construction site a safer place to be.
Slipping and Tripping: The Basics
According to a recent report from the US Department of Labor, slipping and tripping are the cause of most general industry accidents. General industry accidents are the cause of 15% of the total number of accidental deaths annually and 25% of all injury claims. A whopping 95 million work days are lost every year as a result of slips and trips.
What Causes Falls and Slips?
Many different things are the cause of falls and slips, and you cannot protect your workers from all of them. Some of the most common culprits include:
- Floors that are wet or slick
- Dry wood floors with powder or dust on the surface
- Unstable or uneven flooring
- Waxed floors
- Loose carpeting, rugs, or floor mats
- Floor tiles or bricks that are cracked, damaged, or missing altogether
- Walking surfaces with a steep slope
- Dirty shoes
- Clutter or trash on the floor
- Weather (snow, rain, sleet, ice, hail, etc.)
- Wet leaves or outdoor debris
Fall Protection Tip: Keep a Clean Facility
Keeping your workplace and construction site clean is important, as clutter, wet spots, and poorly maintained flooring are major causes of tripping and falling. Take the time to clean up your workplace when you arrive and when you leave, and encourage your workers to clean up after themselves regularly. If necessary, consider hiring a professional commercial cleaning company to keep your space tidy.
Fall Protection Tip: Stop Wet or Slick Surfaces
Flooring is one of the biggest causes of trips and falls, so keeping them clean and dry is essential. Surfaces like parking lots, sidewalks, kitchens, bathrooms, and flooring in high-traffic areas are all common spots for slipping. Reduce falls on walking surfaces by using anti-skid paint or striping material, cleaning up snow and ice immediately, and placing signage around slick areas indoors to alert your employees.
Construction Safety from G&M Services
G&M Services has a great amount of expertise, experience, and training when it comes to demolishing concrete, so trust us with the job. We understand how dangerous our important work with concrete can be, and we take safety precautions every minute of every day to prevent anything bad from happening. We offer many different services to our valued clients, including concrete drilling, concrete scanning, and FireStop. For more information on our services, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 787-8828. For more safety tips and interesting articles, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and LinkedIn.
