The average person takes 18,000 steps every day! There are over 13 million slip, trip and fall injuries every year that can result in lost workdays, broken bones, bad backs, even permanent disability and death. You can prevent painful injuries both on and off the job if you understand how slips, trips and falls happen.

Slips are a loss of balance caused by too little friction between your feet and the surface you work or walk on. Slips can be caused by constantly wet surfaces, occasional spills, or weather hazards, such as snow and ice. Walking carelessly, ignoring occasional spills and wearing shoes without adequate traction for the surface can cause painful slip injuries both at work and at home.

Trips are loss of balance caused by an interference between your forward motion and some object. You can also trip walking or running backwards. Taking short cuts, leaving clutter in walkways, working under poor lighting and walking on loose, uneven footing are common causes to trips. Trips are as likely to occur from these hazards at home as on the job.

Falls are caused whenever you move too far off your center of balance. Think of it this way: when you fall, gravity pulls you from one unstable position to a second, more stable position. Makeshift ladders, reaching too far up or to the side while on a ladder, and ladders set up on loose, uneven ground are common fall hazards, A slip or trip as well, often ends in a painful fall.

PREVENTION TAKES TEAMWORK
Your employer is committed to prevent slips, trips and falls on the job, but it takes teamwork - you, your coworkers, and your employer all working together to make your workplace as safe and accident-free as possible. Develop the skills to recognize, avoid and control hazards to prevent injuries both on and off the job.

Your role in fall prevention is to be a team player, Be considerate of the people you work with, and think ahead by cleaning up or reporting spills and picking up stray tools and equipment especially on walkways. Be sure to report hazards and any injuries to your supervisor. Be especially aware of the hazardous: "Just" and "Only"..." I just have to reach a little bit further", "It will only take a second".

• Recognize the many hazards on and off the job. Your best bet is to pay attention and make sure you can see your path ahead.
  
• Avoid hazards by walking around then carefully or stepping over them. Be sure to slow down so you can keep your balance.
  
• Control hazards by marking them clearly so others won't get hurt. Then fix the hazards yourself or report it right away.
  
  
  

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THE SCIENCE OF SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS
Accidents may seem all too easy. Actually, slips, trips and falls involve three laws of science - friction, momentum and gravity. Friction helps prevent slips. Momentum often contributes to trips. Gravity always plays a part in falls. Tl help prevent injuries, it helps to understand how these three forces affect slips, trips and falls.

Friction is the resistance between things, such as between your shoes and the surface you stand on. Without adequate friction, you are apt to slip (and probably fall). With friction, there is enough resistance between your shoes and the surface you are on to hold you upright on your center of balance, and allow you to move safely forward.

Momentum is affected by speed and size. In other words, "The bigger they are, he harder they fall." The more momentum you have as you move along (the more speed and size), the harder you fall if you should trip or slip. With less momentum, the likelihood of losing your balance after tripping or sipping is decreased.

Gravity is the force that allows a large body (such as the Earth) to pull smaller bodies (such as an apple or you) toward the ground. Without gravity, people and things would never fall. Instead, we would float endlessly in space.

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THE ANATOMY OF BALANCE
Your body has automatic systems for keeping its balance. To keep your body close to its natural center of balance, your eyes take in visual clues, your inner ears identify changes in head or body position, and your muscles sense your body's position in space. Using these three systems as balance aids, you can help prevent slips, trips, and falls.

Balance is maintained by three "feedback systems" - your eyes, ears and muscles. These systems warn you when you start to fall off balance. Your center of balance, which is an imaginary line dropped down through your middle like a plumb line, is where you have maximum balance and are least likely to fall.

• Imbalance is likely if any part of the balance system - eyes, ears, or muscles - is disturbed. Whenever your body's "balancing act" is upset, a fall is likely.
• Sun glare, dense fog, or dim lighting can obscure your visual feedback system. An interference with your ears' function, such as having a head cold, can upset your balance.
• Carrying too much weight in one hand or reaching beyond your center of balance can throw off your muscular balance system and contribute to a fall.

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PREVENTING SLIPS
Slips can occur wherever there is too little friction between your feet and the surface you work or walk on. Walking itself requires considerable balance, since your heel must keep you balanced until the rest of your foot lands on the floor. The most common causes of slips are constantly wet surfaces, occasional spills and weather hazards, As with trips and falls, slips are more likely when you hurry and are inattentive or distracted. Work with your supervisor, coworkers nd family to recognize, avoid and control slip hazards wherever they occur.

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IDENTIFYING HAZARDS
Constantly wet surfaces. In jobs such as food or beverage processing, where cleanliness and sanitation are critical, the work surface may be constantly wet. Taking long steps quickly, turning sharp corners, and not paying attention to the surface you are working on may cause you to slip. Hurrying on wet surfaces and wearing "any old shoes" to work are other causes of slip injuries.

Occasional spills In most work situations, whether it's a hospital, gas station, industrial plant or office building, the work surface can occasionally become wet. Whether at home or on the job, leaving a spill behind - even a minor coffee or water spill - can cause you or a coworker to slip and fall. Walking with your hands in your pockets and hurrying can increase the chance of a slip injury.

Weather hazards. Mother Nature has a way of providing plenty of surprises. Ice in the parking lot, snow on the front steps, or rain and mud on the loading dock can appear suddenly. Wearing shoes with little friction, such as smooth-soled, high-heeled shoes on ice, increases your chance of slipping. Sun glare on ice can keep you from seeing slip hazards ahead. Carrying large, awkward loads on slippery surfaces can also throw you off balance.

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PREVENTING INJURY
Practice safe walking skills. If you must walk on wet surfaces, you can prevent slip injuries by taking a few simple precautions. Take short steps to keep your center of balance under you. Walk with your feet pointed outward slightly for a stable base of support, and make wide turns at corners. Pay attention to the surface you are walking on - it may become wetter or slicker up ahead. Slow sown, especially at intersections. Wear slip-resistant shoes appropriate for your job.

Clean spill right away. Whenever you see a water, oil, or other substance spill, clean it up right away. Or mark the spill with a sign, paper towels or wastebasket, and report it to the appropriate person in your work area. As a general rune, keep your hands free for balance rather than in your pockets. Go about your job at a calm, steady pace instead of racing down halls and around corners - where a greasy spill may be waiting.

Wear slip-resistant shoes. There are plenty of ways to be safely prepared for Mother Nature. Wear slip-resistant shoes or overshoes with adequate friction for the particular weather hazard. Keep shoe soles clean and free of oil, mud and ice. Keep your vision clear by wearing sunglasses around ice and snow on a bright day. Keep one hand free for balance if you have to move across slippery areas.

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PREVENTING TRIPS
Trips can occur whenever your foot strikes an object and you are moving with sufficient momentum to be thrown off balance. Trips most often occur when you try to take a short cut, when lighting is inadequate and the work area is cluttered and when an area has loose footing. Like slips and falls, trips are more likely when you hurry and don't pay attention to where you are going. By learning to recognize, avoid and control trip hazards both at home and on the job, you, your coworkers and your family can work together to prevent painful - and needless- injuries.

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IDENTIFYING HAZARDS
On the Job
Short Cuts. Because there is so much to get done every day, it's tempting to take short cuts in order to squeeze everything in. You might take a short cut off the walkway by walking across someone's lawn. You might carry a load too big to see over, obstructing your view of your feet. But the more short cuts you take and the more you hurry, the greater the chance for a trip injury.

Lighting and Clutter Hazards. You need adequate lighting to maintain your balance and identify possible hazards ahead. Lights left off and burned out bulbs can interfere with your ability to see clearly. Clutter in your work area is another common hazard. Tools, broken boards, wood or cardboard boxes, hoses, toolboxes, pipes, roe and lunchboxes, if left lying loose in your work area, can cause a trip injury.

Off the Job
Loose Footing Many trip injuries are caused by loose footing on stairs, steps and floors. Loose carpeting, buckling stair treads and broken floorboards are trip hazards that invite injury. Throw rugs can bunch or slide. Clutter on stairs, such as toys, magazines, roller skates, dolls, laundry and baseball mitts can all cause trip injuries. Even pets and children are potential trip hazards.

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PREVENTING INJURY
Be cautious. Just because a short cut worked once doesn't mean it will work again. Take the pathway provided for pedestrians. Whether it is a sidewalk or the marked walkway in a construction yard, the pathway provided is apt to be the most free of trip hazards. Make sure you can see where you are going. Slow down. No matter how much of a hurry you are in , carry only loads you can see over.

Keep work areas well lit and clean. Always turn on lights before going into a room, even if you're only going in for a minute. Keep all work areas well lit; replace used light bulbs as soon as they burn out and repair fixtures and cord immediately if they malfunction. Don't wait until someone trips and falls in a darkened room. Move slowly where light is dim. Keep work areas clean and free of clutter, especially in storage rooms and walkways.

Make Repairs. Use two-sided tape or small carpet tacks to fix loose carpeting to stairs, hallways and main rooms. Fix stair treads that are loose or buckling, and make sure handrails are secure. Fasten throw rugs securely or use skid-resistant rugs. Don't use stairs as temporary closets; store household belongings away safely, Have regular pick-up jobs around the house watch for pets underfoot. Accompany young children on stairs, and encourage them to play elsewhere.

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PREVENTING FALLS
Falls occur whenever you move too far off your center of balance. Slips and trips often push you off your center of balance far enough to cause a fall, but there are many other ways to fall. Makeshift ladders, misuse of ladders and inadequate equipment for a job are the most common causes of falls. As with slips and trips, hurrying and being distracted often contribute to a fall. Begin to recognize and avoid potential fall hazards on the job, and work with your supervisor to control the hazards that you see. Then try to practice the same prevention skills at home too.

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IDENTIFYING HAZARDS
On the Job
Makeshift Ladders It's sometimes tempting to use whatever is handy to "build" a ladder. Standing on top of a garbage can to reach something, or making a short ladder taller by elevating the legs on a box or blocks, are common fall hazards. Because makeshift ladders are never quite right for the job, they often cause a further hazard, making you overreach beyond your center of balance and causing a fall.

Incorrect use of ladders. Using equipment incorrectly - even the right equipment for the job - is a common fall hazard. A ladder may be set too close or too far from the building that supports it. Using a tall ladder by yourself - without someone at the base- and loose, uneven ground at the base are other hazards. Standing on top of a stepladder or using an extension ladder that is too short invites dangerous falls.

Off the Job
Tricky Jobs Some situations present a big (or even small) problem that you alone can't handle. The job might involve tricky maneuvering, special skills, heavy weights, or a particularly unstable environment. The job may require special equipment or simply be new to you. If you try to do such jobs before assessing the situation carefully, you may suddenly find yourself "up a tree" in a tough spot.

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PREVENTING INJURY
Use appropriate equipment. Make sure you have the right climbing equipment for the job. Find out what you need; you may need a small stepladder, an extension ladder or even a special industrial device. If you're not sure what you need, check with your supervisor; don't invent climbing equipment. Once you are using the right equipment for the job, don't overreach. Keep your arms and legs as close to your center of balance as possible.

Follow Ladder Safety Rules. Follow the 1-to-4 rule when using a ladder: set the base out from its support one foot for every four feet of working ladder height. (Measure "working height" from the ground to where the ladder hits its support.) Have someone hold the base or tie off the ladder securely. Set the ladder on firm, stable ground. Extend an extension ladder three feet beyond its contact with the building and tie it off. Never use the top rung and always inspect a ladder before using it.

Get Help Recognize potentially dangerous situations and look for logical solutions to them. Think through a tricky job before you begin it. Assess what you need in order to get the job done, and then figure out where to get that equipment or assistance..Ask for help if you need it. Manage dangerous situations carefully and keep them under control to prevent falls.

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SLIP-RESISTANT SHOES
One of the best ways to help prevent slip injuries is to increase the friction between your shoe and the surfaces you work and walk on. The amount of friction a sole provides varies with the work surface and its typical conditions (wet, dry, or greasy). Here are some general guidelines to help you choose the best slip-resistant sole for your particular job.

Neoprene soles, made with a synthetic rubber, can be used safely on most work surfaces, both wet and dry. They are not recommended for oily conditions.

Crepe soles, rubber with a "crinkled" texture, are best used for rough concrete, either dry or wet. They are not suggested for tile, smooth concrete or wood surfaces.

Leather soles can be used for ceramic tile, wood and concrete surfaces that are wet and greasy. They are not recommended for dry, smooth concrete or tile.

Soft rubber soles can be used safely when working on most dry surfaces. They are not suggested for wet or greasy concrete.

Hard rubber soles are best used for greasy concrete and wood. They are not recommended for ceramic tile, dry or wet concrete, and wood.

Safe Footwear also means wearing shoes that give support, fit well, and are comfortable. If in doubt about work shoes ask your supervisor; you may need special features, such as safety toes. Remember to check the floor before walking across it. Is it wet? Oily? Just waxed? If so, slow down, take short steps and walk with toes slightly out.

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SPECIAL HAZARDS
All jobs and work situations have their own specialized equipment and special equipment demands extra caution. Fixed ladders, vehicles, scaffolds and platform, and offices all require special attention. Keep these tips in mind to prevent injuries on the job.

Fixed Ladders: Keep body parallel to vertical ladders when climbing.
Use fall restraint devices where provided.
Follow your company's safety rules.

Vehicles
Use safety cages on fork lifts.
Don't jump from tailgates on trucks.
Use caution stepping into or out of all vehicles.

Scaffolds and Platforms
Use fall prevention devices where provided.
Use lifting devices to transport supplies.
Move the platform instead of overreaching.
Clean up spills immediately.

Offices
Always close file drawers.
Store briefcases and purses away safely.
Keep all chair legs on the ground.
Set up temporary office equipment with extra caution.
Clean up spill immediately.