|
OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
|
District 11 Office |
Education Matters Online
Volume 4, Issue 4: April 20, 2006
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) indicate that 24% of all lost time injuries are the result of falls on the same level while falls from a height to a lower level account for another 6% of all lost time injuries. These statistics do not include the near misses or injuries that did not warrant lost time claims! Across Canada, approximately 60,000 workers are hurt every year from slip, trip and fall accidents. In Ontario, slip, trip and fall injuries are second only to motor vehicle accidents. When implemented, the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) can be significantly effective in reducing slip, trip and fall hazards and their related injuries… Everyone in the workplace is personally responsible for the safety related to slips, trips and falls. Slip hazards exist when there is not enough friction between your feet and the walking surface causing you to suddenly lose your balance. Trip hazards exist when your foot hits something in your path causing you to lose your balance. Falls are considered as the consequence of unprotected slips and trips and occur when your body movement shifts too far off the center of balance. Many slip, trip and fall hazard injuries are made worse by what you do when you start to fall. Many injuries are incurred when the back is twisted while the individual is fighting the momentum of the fall. The resulting strain injuries may be equally painful and long-lasting as the injuries from the fall itself. Joints can also break or be strained when individuals attempt to break their fall. Researchers say that the severity of a fall can be reduced by just relaxing and resisting the instinctive urge to try to stop the fall. The wrists, elbows and knees should be bent and the chin tucked in, the head turned and one arm thrown up. It is best, when falling, to land on the bottom and side instead of on the back. How to Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
