Slipping hazards

Precaution Supports combustion if ignited incompat. with strong oxidizers spilled particles present a severe slip hazard, clean up promptly spillage presents a severe slip hazard Hazardous Decomp. Prods. CO , CO... 

Walkways ensure the safe passage of workers from one area to another. If walkways are not clearly defined and demarcated, no defined path exists. This could be hazardous, as items could be stored in pathways, which could create trip-and-slip hazards. 

Weather conditions such as high winds, extreme cold and heat, and icy or wet surfaces can expose workers to environmental and slip hazards. 

Improper usage of cleaning products can result in failure to disinfect or cause overexposme, resulting in dermatitis, slipping hazards, or deterioration of floors and fumitme. Workers must mix cleaning chemicals properly because some improper mixtures can create dangerous reactions or... 

Potential exists for slips and falls in the radiology area Ensure floors don t contain slip hazards snch as water, blood, vomit, or excreta. Keep aisles and passageways clear and in good repair with no obstruction across or in the aisles. Provide floor pings for eqnipment to prevent the need for placing cords across pathways. Report and clean all spills immediately. Correctly maintain floors by nsing nonskid waxes. 

In the long run, spills of process fluids are nearly inevitable. These create slipping hazards and can also short out insulation. Cell room housekeeping is therefore very important. Floor gratings, besides being nonconductive, should also have nonslip properties. FRP and timber have been widely used. The former is the material of choice in most modem cell rooms. 

Maintain ladders free of oil, grease, and other slipping hazards. 

Confined space precautions — Assess limited work spaces and slipping hazards, and evaluate hazardous atmospheres and interior surfaces for flammabihty, combustibility, or toxic fumes that could result from welding processes. 

Another hazard is a sudden change in floor conditions. For example, when one moves from a dry surface to one that is wet, muddy, icy, or oily, there is an increased chance for slipping. Adjusting one s gait can reduce the potential for slipping or falling. A sloping surface can add to a slip hazard. 

Controls One control for preventing slipping conditions involves inspection. Work planning should include inspection of working and walking surfaces to remove or prevent slip hazards. 

Also important are the selection, application, and maintenance of surface treatments and finishes. Many manufacturers and suppliers have test data on floor finish products. Independent testing and evaluation of samples may be worthwhile before the final selection. To reduce slipperiness, consider adding abrasive strips in strategic places, such as on stair nosing or wet areas. Fine sUica sand mixed into flooring paints can reduce slipperiness. Apply and maintain waxes and other finish materials properly, since maintenance procedures can affect their slip properties. For example, excessive buildup of finish material or excessive buffing can alter slip properties from those obtained in test conditions. Locations where slip hazards are high may need different materials and finishes than other locations. 

Employees with little safety and health experience might walk near a punch press leaking lubricating oil on a shop floor and recognize a slipping hazard. For the more experienced professional several questions are raised ... 

Operational procedures and general safety. Dust shall not be permitted to accumulate on the floor or on ledges outside of an abrasive-blasting enclosure, and dust spills shall be cleaned up promptly. Aisles and walkways shall be kept clear of steel shot or similar abrasive which may create a slipping hazard. 

All workers will ensure that they have secure footing before they attempt to walk on the sheathing, including cleaning shoes/boots of mud or other slip hazards. 

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for workers to spill oil or some other slippery substance on the workplace floor and then walk away from the spill, leaving behind a slip hazard for another worker. A common workplace safe work practice and housekeeping rule should be to clean up spills right away. Another unsafe work practice that commonly leads to slips and falls is when a worker is in a hurry, rushes to finish a particular task, and overlooks safe work practices. 

If an aggressive person is requested to wipe up an oil spill from the floor to reduce a slipping hazard, the response may be Wlty should 1 wipe up the spill when 1 didn t put it there . 

Floor/walkways/steps/stairs to be free of tripping/slipping hazards ( ... 

Have all hot/cold surfaces been adequately guarded to prevent burns Are all cold surfaces adequately insulated to prevent condensation drips (slip hazards) ... 

For fire protection, a CO2 or dry chemical extinguisher is needed at each storage area. Good housekeeping in wiping up oil spills will reduce fire and slipping hazards. 

All dust shall be cleaned up promptly. Aisles and walkways shall be kept clear of abrasives that might cause a slipping hazard. 

But we just can t get our people to mop the oils off the floor to prevent these slip hazards. The plant manager was insistent We are doing what we can to reduce hazards, but the injuries we re seeing are caused by our people not following procedures . 

AS/NZS 3661.2 1994 Slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces - Guide to the reduction of slip hazards. 

Keep electrical equipment away from lab sinks and running water. In addition, wet floors should be mopped, not only to prevent a slip hazard but also to prevent electrical shock. A rubber mat provides some protection against electrical shock, but should not be depended on as a substitute for proper grounding and bonding of electrical equipment and maintaining floors in a dry condition. 

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