Watch your step! We’ve all heard this many times. But it’s so easy to get distracted and not pay attention to where we are going or what we are doing. This is how slips, trips, and falls occur. Twisted ankles, knee strains, and back injuries are the most common injuries; but depending on how a person falls, so are fractured wrists and muscle tears.
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury in the construction workplace. While the most catastrophic of these occur when working from heights, believe it or not, many injuries also happen at the ground level; and many of these accidents occur when walking across uneven ground that is too hard, too soft, wet, or muddy.
What your employees need to know about slips, trips, and falls
Distractions rank high on the list of injury causes, in these conditions. It’s important to stay focused while navigating uneven ground. If someone is carrying a piece of equipment, startled by a loud noise, moving too fast, or even talking with a colleague, the person’s focus can switch away from the ground conditions. This can keep workers from identifying trip hazards, potentially causing them to take an unexpected fall.
Slowing down when the ground is soft or wet is a common practice for people who work on dirt or grass. However, conditions can be just as dangerous after the ground has dried out following rainfall. If heavy machinery moved through the area when the ground was wet, large tire tracks may have been left behind. When the ground dries, these tracks harden leaving deep ruts. These ruts pose a serious trip hazard. Not only that, if someone does trip over one and fall, they are at risk of further injury as they’ll likely land on the same deep, hardened ruts that led to the initial trip.
What your employees need to do to avoid slips, trips, and falls
Eliminate the distractions as much as possible. As mentioned above, walking at a speed appropriate for the conditions is a must. Avoid other distractions too, such as carrying tools or equipment with you. Maybe these items can be transported on one of the vehicles needed in the area. You can also use a tool belt, back pack, cart, or wheelbarrow to move your tools.
Survey the jobsite each day in order to identify problem areas to be aware of or avoid. This includes:
- Identifying the ruts, slippery conditions, and other uneven ground on the worksite.
- Identifying holes and trenches on the site. Cover them and/or rope them off with caution tape to prevent access to the area.
- Keeping shoe and boot tread clean to provide better traction.
- Do not take shortcuts through debris piles.
Additionally, to further prevent the potential for injury while working on uneven ground, make sure walkways and areas around ladders are always kept clear of tools or debris. Pay close attention to where cords and hoses are placed as these can also create tripping hazards.
