Unsafe Acts
September 10, 2018
Fall Season
September 25, 2018
Good Morning Team,
We started the month off talking about one of the most common reportable injuries we seem to suffer in our own workplace, slips, trips and falls. As of now, all falls reported this year seem to have been from the same level. While those are certainly bad enough in terms of injuries produced, you’ll probably agree that falling from a height poses a more serious threat of injury. Falls from height have an obviously greater impact on our bodies, fracturing bones or damaging internal organs. We are often tasked with working from a higher level, but probably the biggest risk, due to frequency of need for us in falling from a height, would be while using a ladder. To date, one of our most expensive accidents ever recorded in terms of medical dollars spent, which doesn’t even consider the employee’s pain and suffering, was a fall from a ladder.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission continues to report that in the United States approximately 90,000 people a year receive emergency room treatment for a ladder related fall each year and these numbers continue to rise. 32% of these injuries resulted in broken bones. OHSA believes that ladder accidents are 100% preventable if proper attention to equipment and climber training were provided. They report that all ladder accidents can be boiled down to 4 main causes. These are:
- Improper ladder selection. 2. Use of worn or damaged ladder. 3. Incorrect use of the ladder. 4. Incorrect placement of ladder.
Weigand-Omega has a Fall Prevention and Protection Program and it is spelled out in our WOM Safety Manual on page 26. Section SF.403 is devoted to our Ladder Safety Policy and Procedures. Please take the time needed to read and fully understand it. It covers the above causes very well but always defer to the ladder manufacturer’s ownership manual or other instructions when questions arise. Never try to “make-do” with a ladder that isn’t tall enough or of the correct construction material. Never use a ladder that you know is damaged. Always inspect them prior to use. Don’t use a ladder in any way that the manufacturer has not condoned. Be careful of setting one up where there is a possibility it can get knocked over. Failing in any one of these steps is sure to lead to a fall or other accident.
Don’t get hurt while moving a ladder either. The larger they are, the heavier and more unwieldy they can get. Seek assistance when setting up these large or long ladders. Make sure that you are cautious when carrying a ladder to avoid accidental contact with others. It should also be mentioned that transporting a ladder can sometimes lead to accidents. When transporting on a vehicle, make sure they are securely tied off to the vehicle itself. Common sense should play a big role in using ladders safely, but we sometimes set that common sense aside when we feel pressured to get something done quickly. No task, job, assignment, service request or work order is worth risking your safety over. Be safe and listen to your common sense. Take no shortcuts or chances when using a ladder.
Have very good and safe week!
Sincerely,
Ray Moore
Dir. of Facilities Services