Slips, trips, and falls occur every day. It has likely happened to you – you may be in a hurry and run down a flight of stairs or walking on a deck while reading plans or instructions. You might slip on a slick surface and suddenly your feet go out from under you. Falls can also be caused by tripping on an obstacle - your feet get caught but your body keeps moving. Accidents like these can result in a simple bump or bruise, or a more serious injury. The extent of injuries and their recurrence can be minimized through proper safety knowledge and attitudes.
According to the National Safety Council, workers are injured from slips, trips, and falls more than any other occupational injury. Some common causes include:
Photos illustrating some common slip/trip/fall exposures in both shipyards and marine cargo handling facilities can be found on the Safety Focus: Falls From Same Level page on the ALMA member resource website.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the federal agency that enforces safety and health regulations in the United States, has set forth requirements to protect workers from fall hazards in all industries. These requirements are mandatory and must be implemented anywhere fall hazards exist.
Specific OSHA rules for shipyards, marine terminals, general industry, and longshoring are listed on the Safety Focus: Falls From Same Level page on the ALMA member resource website.
The average person takes 10,000 steps per day. That is 10,000 times a day they could potentially slip, trip or fall. Here are some best safety practices for reducing these types of injuries at your facility:
As part of our monthly Safety Focus initiative, the ALMA member resource website has a page providing safety resources related to falls from same level. Resources include: