Slips, trips and falls. National Metalforming Centre - February Steve Thorpe - HSL

Transcription

1 Slips, trips and falls National Metalforming Centre - February 2014 Steve Thorpe - HSL An An Agency Agency of the of Health the Health and Safety and Executive Safety Executive

2 Management Regulations Employers to assess the risks (including slips & trips risks) to employees and others who may be affected by their work or business To enable identification of the measures they need to take to comply with health & safety law

3 Workplace (H,S,W) Regulations Floors / traffic routes: To be of a construction that is suitable for purpose To have no hole or slope, or be uneven or slippery so as to expose any person to a risk to their safety So far as reasonably practicable, floors / traffic routes to be kept free from obstructions and substances likely to cause a person to slip, trip or fall Staircases to be provided with suitable and sufficient handrails

4 Slips, trips and falls (STF s)

5 Slips, trips and falls 2012/13p Falls from height were the most common cause of fatalities (31%) (RIDDOR) Slips and trips were the most common cause of major injuries to employees, with falls from height the next most common (RIDDOR) Slips, trips and falls were responsible for more than half of all major (56%) and almost a third of over seven day (31%)

6 Canadian TV Advert

7 Slips trips and falls Use risk assessment Do them first! Must be based on reliable information

8 Slip potential Cleaning

9 Pendulum test Imitates heel impact Produce correct fluid dynamics CoF measurement wet and dry HSE/HSL preferred method BS ,2,3 : A UKSRG Guidelines V4 2011

10 Ramp Test HSL method for flooring NOT the commonly used DIN method British Standard for industrial floors (BS : 2006) Laboratory use only

11 Surface Microroughness Useful complementary measurement Indicator Quick easy on site measurement Good monitoring tool Used by SAT, risk assessment process Useful on profiles, stairs and steps

12 Selecting a Floor Has the slip resistance of the floor been measured? How has the data been generated? What condition was the floor tested in? What is going to get on the floor? In situ floors? Installation is key! Cleaning / Maintenance

13 Grids and gratings Measure with the ramp Roughness measurement useful May wear / change quickly Slip resistance tends to reduce with wear Footwear will influence performance

14 Profiled surfaces Don t necessarily improve slip resistance Measure with the pendulum Roughness measurement useful Wear / change quickly get worse!

15 Cleaning Make cleaning work for you! How do you clean today is it effective? Don t spread small spills Leave smooth surfaces dry Detergent is needed to clean greasy spills HSE Guidance

16 RC (%) Cleaning Residual coverage following floor cleaning (Field conditions vs. Two-steps at 24 C) Field (FQT, DM at C and T) Optimal (FQT, 2SM at Rec. And 24 C) K3 (0.07, 72) K16 (0.05, 36) LIFT (0.33, 52) FLASH (0.17, 33) FLASH (0.20, 15) FLASH (0.51, 58) DASH (1.22, 22) HSDC (0.11, 10) ULTRA (0.10, 19) OXYGEL (0.11, 54)

17 Roving cleaner to monitor spills

18 How effective?

19 Half and half cleaning

20 Half and half cleaning gone wrong!

21 Footwear What is safety footwear?

22 Slip resistant footwear? European Standard EN 20345, Test method EN13287 Ceramic water SRA Heel 0.28 Flat 0.32 Steel glycerol SRB Heel 0.13 Flat 0.18 Achieve both SRC Tile contribution to SRA? Threshold for SRB? 22

23 Ramp Test HSL method Measures the slip resistance of footwear Standard tests Bespoke combinations

24 Slip resistant footwear? Sample Claim HSL ramp wet CoF Safety Boot (toe midsole) No 0.37 Safety Boot (toe midsole) No 0.37 Safety Boot (toe midsole) No 0.36 Wellington (toe midsole) Yes 0.25 Boot (toe) Yes 0.18 Clogs Yes 0.15 European Standard (EN 13287) is not helpful

25 Footwear Effective slip resistant footwear available Not easy to identify don t believe what it says on the box! HSL have developed their own test e mail us for specific advice Trial footwear in the workplace Involve staff Use peer group information Footwear costs less than accidents

26 Trip Hazards Waste packaging - shrink wrapping - banded strapping Holes, cracks, uneven surfaces Changes in level Pallets Trailing cables in walkways Electrical and phone socket outlets Fork lift truck forks

27 Poor housekeeping / maintenance

28 Can you spot the trip hazard?

29 Trips Solutions Establish a positive culture - keep tidy Eliminate holes and uneven surfaces Designate walkways, mark clearly Provide enough storage (peak times) Plan workflows Plan waste disposal Provide good lighting

30 Steps and Stairs Do people slip on stairs? Dimensions Consistency of dimension, going and rise Shape of nosing Position of nosing strip Visibility of nosing strip Slip resistance of nosing strip

31 Steps and Stairs Handrails height, position, shape, clearance Guarding Lighting Design out single steps British Standard BS 5395: 2010

32 Steps and Stairs The edge (nosing) is key Wear Require maintenance 32

33 HSE Tools Slips assessment tool SAT Slips and trips e learning package STEP Flooring selection tool FST Stairs tool and training HSE Guidance

34 Conclusions These accidents can be reduced Better information is key Cleaning / Housekeeping is an important control The correct footwear can be very effective Be wary of profiled surfaces (floors, stairs, vehicles) Stopping these accidents will save you money

35 HSL offer Site and laboratory testing Audits Accident review Bespoke training Review of plans / designs Expert witness steve.thorpe@hsl.gsi.gov.uk

36 Questions?