According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, slip,
trip, and fall injuries have represented over 35% of all occupational injuries
since 2002. Many of these injuries are caused by unsafe behaviors or
decisions and failure to correct unsafe conditions when they are recognized.
Review the following Safety Talk to help reduce the number of these hazards
at Colby.
Trips:
Falls
Trips occur when one’s foot collides with an object,
Falls occur
one loses
balance
causing
you towhen
lose balance.
Common
causesresulting
of trips are:in a drop to the ground
 Obstructed
vieweffects of gravity. Common causes of falls are:
from the
 Poor lighting
Improper use of equipment;
 Poor housekeeping
Horseplay;
 Wrinkled carpet
 Cords across walkwaysUnfamiliar with work area;
 Uneven walking surfaces
Overreaching; or
Skipping steps.
Slips:
Slips occur when there is too little friction between one’s
footwear and the walking surface. Common causes of slips are:
 Wet or oily surfaces
 Weather hazards
 Loose or unanchored rugs
 Flooring with changing degree of traction
Falls:
Falls occur when one loses balance, resulting in a drop to the
ground from the effects of gravity. Common causes of falls are:
 Improper use of equipment
 Horseplay
 Unfamiliar with work area
 Overreaching
 Skipping steps
If the bat is located in an area that is not typically
accessible to faculty, staff and students, such as an attic, it should be
left alone until it can be removed by a licensed wildlife contractor,
specializing in bat removal.
If the bat is located within a space that presents a risk to
faculty, staff and students, such as in a bedroom, an office, a
corridor or other common space where potential human exposure is
How to Minimize the Risk:
possible,
bat shall
be removed.
• Clean slip hazards on walking the
and working
surfaces
such as water, ice, snow, oil,
Do leaking
not release
a batawnings,
unless and
known
forimmediately.
sure that an
andogrease. Repair
equipment,
shelters
• Walk,
do not runto
to a
your
destination.
Give yourself
enough
get where you
exposure*
person
or domestic
animal
hastime
nottooccurred.
are going.
*
Exposure - is defined as a person or domestic animal that has, or
• Wear shoes that have good tread and are made of non-slip material (rubber).
may
have
contact with
a live
• Watch where you are
going
whilehad
walking—pay
attention
and do not get
distracted.
Reading, completely
writing, texting,
andout
similar
whilescratch
walking or
arecontact
not safe
bat and cannot
rule
thattasks
a bite,
behaviors.
with bat saliva did not occur.
• Always familiarize yourself with the work area and activities before starting.
• up hoses,Example
– a and
person
wakes
upimmediately
to find a bat
inuse,
theand
• Pick
cords, chains,
otherthat
similar
hazards
after
room,
or athem.
roomInstall
in which
a bathose
andand
petcord
arereels
found
together, even if
safely store
retractable
if possible.
• Maintain
3 points ofare
contact
when
ladders
and stairs. Use
handrails.
no wounds
visible
is climbing
considered
a potential
exposure.
• Inspect walkways before lifting and carrying something if your visibility to the
- ground is If
a known or potential exposure to a bat has occurred, the
going to be obstructed.
bat must
be captured
purposes.
• Pick up and properly
dispose
of banding for
and testing
straps when
unpackaging materials
oand supplies.
If the bat is not captured, or the brain of the bat has been
• damaged
Apply non-slip
tapeattempt
to handrails,
steps, and the
walking
surfacestesting
if necessary.
in the
to capture,
required
cannot be
• Pick up and safely store brooms, shovels, and tools. Do not lean them against a
done,
and because
it will have
to be
that the
bat has rabies.
vertical
surface
they can
fall assumed
over and become
trip hazards.
5% of the
all condition
bats tested
are found
to be “positive” for rabies.
• •Routinely inspect
of handrails
and guards.
• Always use fall
is any
possibility
that you
be injured
by a
Doprotection
not strikeif there
the bat
with
such force
orcould
equipment
that
fall from your work area.
the brain will be compromised.
o
As long as the bat is capturedThe
for Numbers
testing, decisions
:
about
35%
occupational
injuries
are are
related
to slips,
post-exposure prophylaxis
canofwait
until test
results
obtained.
trips,
and falls it must be brought to the
o
Once the bat
is captured,
#1 cause oflocation;
worker’s compensation claims and
following
occupational injury for people aged 55 years and
If the bat is notolder
captured, or the brain of the bat has been
damaged in the attempt 3toMillion
capture,Americans
the required
testing
cannot
be
will have
an injury
at work
done, and it will haveevery
to beyear
assumed that the bat has rabies.
1.
2.
3.
Questions/Discussion:
What behaviors cause the greatest risk of slip, trip, and fall hazards at
Colby?
What are some safe ways to properly store hoses, cords, brooms,
shovels, and other trip hazards?
Incidence of falls goes up with each decade of life. Why do you think
this might be true?
Printed Name
Signature
Questions, concerns or comments contact the EHS Director at extension
5504 .