Falls From the Same Level ... Are We Missing Something?

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I have an idea I believe is worth sharing. I hope you agree.

Falls at Work are a Big Deal.

According to the CDC, more than one quarter of all serious work injuries in the United States are related to slips, trips and falls. Of those, half are from a fall at the same level. If we reduce these falls, we could have an appreciable impact on overall injury rates. What if we are missing an important sub-category of these injuries? I believe we are. There seems to be no category that captures when a worker is stationary and applying lateral force and the object or tool unexpectedly slips. The employee falls because their body weight is no longer supported on the object or tool. In the picture above, what will happen when the worker’s hands slip or the object moves unexpectedly?

Our Current Model.

I suspect most of us think about slips, trips and falls as requiring us to be in motion. Common examples are tripping on an uneven surface or slipping on a low-friction surface such as ice or oil. I have reviewed numerous incident reports of falls where the hazard did not involve a worker in motion, a tripping hazard or a slippery surface. In this situation of falling while stationary, it is not about the friction of the walking surface or the employee's attention to their path. The cause of the fall is that the employee did not have a stable base of support. (Do you think the person at right in the picture below will fall if he loses his grip or the cheater bar slips free?) Treating this type of incident as a typical in-motion slip trip and fall - where we need to analyze the environment, ensure people have awareness about their surroundings, have proper footwear and that work surfaces are level - does not address the relevant cause. If we always categorize these incidents as a fall due to a surface risk, then we miss the opportunity to reinforce some simple habits around healthy posture and movement such as establishing a wide stance before applying lateral force (pushing or pulling).

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A Story to Illustrate My Point.

Here is a specific incident that reinforces the missed opportunity.  

What Happened? A few years ago, I read an incident notification - with Lessons Learned - where an employee was injured when he fell forward after his wrench slipped. In falling forward, he struck his face on some piping, breaking off one of his front teeth. The incident investigation highlighted that the employee was using an adjustable wrench. The employee had assessed the hazards and determined that the risk was low enough that it was worthwhile continuing with his available wrench.  

What Was Recommended? The Lessons Learned included (a) return to the tool crib and get the proper fitting wrench and (b) install padding in the immediate area so there were no hazards that could potentially create an injury (the next time an employee fell). Unfortunately, there were no recommendations regarding the importance of establishing a wide stable base of support. This should be a basic principle of applying force - you cannot lean on the tool you are using. If it lets go, you will fall - unless you have a wide enough base of support to remain in control. 

What If We Paid Attention to Our Stance?

There is appropriate focus on working surfaces to prevent slips, trips and falls. The Get a Grip Safety Campaign is a good example of education efforts to highlight the important risk factors and provide simple solutions. What if we had a similar focus on establishing the proper work position? I believe these incidents occur often enough to warrant specific risk control measures. Too many people are getting injured while trying to do their best in completing their job duties within the provided safety guidance. We need to give them the training and feedback to allow them to increase their competence in this important component of an effective health and safety program.

We can do better.

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Physical Literacy for Working From Home

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Lifting Properly - What We See