Feature ‘Ask the expert’
Why trips and slips don’t need to be a fact of life
This month Brady’s Liz Gallagher looks at what can be done to minimise accidents in relation to slips, trips and falls which accounted for 10,000 serious injuries in the UK last year
E
veryone wants to see a reduction in workplace accidents and, especially at this time of year when many facilities are looking at holiday cover as employees take annual leave, I thought it was appro- priate to look at some simple ways to ensure every facility is maximising opportunities to reduce these inci- dents. According to the HSE over 10,000 workers suffered serious injuries in slips or falls last year, that’s 10,000 people who went to work per- fectly healthy but didn’t finish their day that way. So here are some key areas to target and where you can find more information on our website.
7. Warn of Temporary Hazards
www.bradyid.com/bradyid/cms/conte ntView.do/5656/Slips-Trips-Falls.html 8. Inspect Scaffolds and Ladders
www.bradyid.com/bradyid/cms/conte ntView.do/5658/Slips-Trips-Falls.html 9. Control and Clean Oil and Spills
www.bradyid.com/bradyid/cms/conte ntView.do/5660/Slips-Trips-Falls.html 10. Train Your Employees
www.bradyid.com/bradyid/cms/conte ntView.do/5662/Slips-Trips-Falls.html
As in all safety matters, communica- tion is key and that communication has to be clear and unambiguous - if there is a spill on a workfloor, all workers need to know how to deal with it. Prevention of any spillage is even more desirable and with no- obligation advice available from Brady, it really isn’t difficult to have the correct equipment to hand. Take absorbent materials for example, designed to soak up any spillage in a workshop or production area, the SPC range provides both oil and universal sorbent materials to provide a safe work area.
10 steps to preventing slips, trips and falls in the workplace 1. Assess Slips, Trips, and Falls Needs
www.bradyid.com/bradyid/cms/conte ntView.do/5594/Slips-Trips-Falls.html 2. Mark Aisles and Passageways
www.bradyid.com/bradyid/cms/conte ntView.do/5596/Slips-Trips-Falls.html 3. Traction on Slippery Surfaces
www.bradyid.com/bradyid/cms/conte ntView.do/5648/Slips-Trips-Falls.html 4. Improve Safety on Stairs
www.bradyid.com/bradyid/cms/conte ntView.do/5650/Slips-Trips-Falls.html 5. Mark Emergency Evacuation Routes
www.bradyid.com/bradyid/cms/conte ntView.do/5652/Slips-Trips-Falls.html 6. Post Safety Signage and Labelling
www.bradyid.com/bradyid/cms/conte ntView.do/5654/Slips-Trips-Falls.html
Factory Equipment JULY/AUGUST 2011
Remarkably, statistics from the States, and reflected here in the UK, indicate that 66 per cent of all falls are ‘same level’ incidents with bad house- keeping a contributory factor in keep- ing these statistics high. We have covered Visual Workplace within these pages before, primarily from a
Make sure you inspect scaffolds and ladders (above and right) and warn of temporary hazards (below)
Provide traction on slipper surfaces with anti-skid cleats
Left: Control and clean oil spills using all-purpose sorbents anywhere in your facility
cost-efficiency perspective, but what is more costly than employee injury? Clear markings of where equipment should be stored, hazardous areas and machine operation are all essential for visual identification with durable, long lasting material whether floor tape or signage.
During my working day I talk to busy professionals all the time, most of whom are absolutely committed to protecting both their employees and providing a safe and efficient working environment, in fact it’s heartening to know we are all working together to bring those statistics down. Don’t forget, it’s not just me who’s available for advice, all of us on the Brady team can arrange a free no-obligation site visit to highlight some easy and cost- effective measures you might be miss- ing to optimise workplace safety.
Brady T: 01295 228288
www.bradyeurope.com Enter 303
9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48