Slips trips and fall | Floor Surface, Obstacles and Housekeeping

                      SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS IN THE OFFICE

FLOOR SURFACE, OBSTACLES, ENVIRONMENT, AND HOUSEKEEPING

Slip trip fall

SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALL

FLOOR SURFACE, OBSTACLES, ENVIRONMENT, AND HOUSEKEEPING

In the office, the main hazards are slips, trips, and falls are a common source of injuries in all working environments.

Slips occur when there is a loss of grip between the shoe and the floor of the office or construction site. This commonly occurs when there is a contaminant between the shoe and the floor such as when someone walks on a newly mopped floor that is wet on the floor in the office.

Trips occur when a person’s foot hits a low obstacle in the person’s path, causing a loss of balance among staff or employees. The Trips often result from obstructions and uneven surfaces and can usually be avoided by ensuring that floor surfaces are clear and even the floor of the office. However, sometimes the obstacle may not be easily visible or noticed in the office it should be clear and noticed.

Falls can be a result of slips and trips but may also fall from a different height activity in the office or construction site. Falls in the office is likely if chairs, shelves, or ladders are used as steps to reach upper storage levels of height. Falls can also occur on poorly designed or badly lit stairwells or worn stair edges in the office.

Slips, trips, and falls in the office can result in:

·       Sprains or strains injury

·       Broken bones injury when trying to break the fall

·       A back injury due to the sudden and forceful impact during a fall on the floor

·       Burns if it occurs near hot surfaces or if the person is handling hot fluids or office kitchen hot surface. Cuts if it occurs near sharp objects in the office.

The factors can contribute to the risk of slips and trips in the office. It is usually a combination of these factors that create the risk of a slip or trip in the office.

CONTAMINANTS

Contaminants are considered as anything that ends up on a floor that results in slips in the office. Contaminants can be in liquid forms such as water, oil, or grease, or solids such as dust, plastic bags, or oily rags for cleaning. The elimination of office floor contaminants can greatly reduce the risk of slips. This can be done by cleaning the floors properly and regularly in the office. Ensure prompt attention to spills is also important to prevent slips in the office.

FLOOR SURFACE

Floor surfaces in the office require sufficient grip to prevent slipping, especially in areas that are prone to contaminants of the floor surface. The thickness or viscosity of the contaminants, the greater the slip resistance of the flooring required to protect against slipping in the office or construction site.

Floor surfaces shall be cleaned regularly to ensure that the floor does not become slippery in the office areas. In addition, anti-slip mats may be used to increase grip on the floor of the office or construction site.

OBSTACLES AND OTHER TRIP HAZARDS

Trips hazard most often occur because of uneven flooring or cluttered walkways with low obstacles which are not easily visible or noticed in the office or construction site. The common examples of low obstacles include trailing cables or mismanagement of cables uneven edges to flooring, gratings or covers, loose mats or carpet tiles, and changes in floor surface level of an office building.

To prevent the trips hazard:

1.       Good housekeeping practices in the office building

2.       Ensuring the floor surface is in good order such as being free from holes, uneven surfaces, curled up linoleum, or carpet edges in the office area

3.       Avoiding any changes in floor surface level, or if this is not possible, highlighting these changes e.g. with the use of stickers display in the office

4.       Providing adequate storage facilities in the separation of office.

ENVIRONMENT

Poor lighting and distractions such as unfamiliar or unexpected loud noises, or extreme environmental conditions, such as extreme cold or heat, can impact a person noticing slip or trip hazards in their path in the office or construction site.

Ensure adequate light levels without glare or shadowing shall be provided to highlight potential slip or trip hazards in the office. Other distractions, like those mentioned, shall be minimized as much as possible.

PEOPLE AND ACTIVITY

Work activities in the office or constructions site the way the work is organized, and attitudes to safety can affect the personnel’s ability to see or think about where they are going to do. Staff or employees hurrying, carrying large objects, pushing high trolleys, or talking on a mobile phone can cause a slip or trip in the office. It is every individual’s responsibility for staff to be aware of their surroundings to avoid unnecessary incidents in the office building.

Ensure office chair casters wheels/rollers should be maintained to operate freely and easily. The adjustable or swivel chairs should be tested before applying full weight. Office furniture layout should be such that adequate space is left for employees to pass freely between items of furniture and office equipment. Ergonomics shall be considered for selecting office furniture like chairs, easy-to-reach equipment, etc.

OFFICE HOUSEKEEPING

In the office or construction, effective housekeeping can help control or eliminate workplace hazards of slips, trips, and falls. Poor housekeeping practices frequently contribute to incidents or injuries in the workplace. If the sight of paper, debris, clutter, and spills is accepted as normal, then other more serious hazards may be taken for granted.

The Incidents that may be caused by poor housekeeping include:

·       Tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs, and platforms in the office or during construction

·       Being hit by falling objects

·       Slipping on greasy, wet, or dirty surfaces

·       Striking against projecting, poorly stacked items, or misplaced material on the access.

·       Cutting, puncturing or tearing the skin of hands or other parts of the body on protruding nails, wire, or steel strapping in the office.

Housekeeping is not just cleanliness It includes keeping work areas neat and orderly, maintaining halls and floors free of slip and trip hazards, and removing waste materials e.g., paper, cardboard, and other fire hazards from work areas in the office or construction sites. It also requires paying attention to important details such as the layout of the whole workplace, the adequacy of storage facilities, and maintenance and implementation. Good housekeeping is also a basic part of incident and fire prevention and slips trips and falls.

In addition, effective housekeeping results in:

·       Reduced handling to ease the flow of materials

·       Lower personnel exposures to hazardous products (e.g. dust, vapors)

·       Better control of tools and materials, including inventory and supplies

·       More efficient equipment clean-up and maintenance

·       Better hygienic conditions lead to improved health

·       More effective use of space

·       Reduced property damage by improving preventive maintenance

·       Less janitorial work

·       Improved morale; and

·       Improved productivity (tools and materials will be easy to find).

In the Office or constructions sites Housekeeping to ensure:

·       Walkways, aisles, & stairs must be kept free and unobstructed at all times in the office or construction sites.

·       Trash and waste paper basket containers shall not be allowed to obstruct normal employee walkways and paths in the office.

·       Don’t block fire equipment or escape routes in the office building.

·       Take care & good judgment while storing heavy material shifting

·       Orderly arrangement in all areas, especially storage areas.

It is reasonable to expect personnel to leave their immediate work area in a clean and tidy condition at the end of the working day, other options for carrying out the general cleaning of the workplace may be considered, for example engaging cleaners in the office building.

Effective housekeeping is a continual operation on a daily basis. Training all personnel in good housekeeping procedures and ensuring their adherence to the guidelines provided in this standard is necessary to keep the workplace clean and tidy.