According to an article entitled “Making Your Stairs Safe” posted on SafetyMagic.com, the “stair tread is one of the most important and most frequently overlooked aspect of stair safety.  A good stair tread creates a non-slippery surface that increases traction on the stairs and reduces the likelihood that a fall will occur.”  Some safety stair tread options that are indicated as a viable solution include rubber, metal, polypropylene as well as braided fabrics.

OSHA has specific requirements for the construction of stairs in most work environments.  “All treads shall be reasonably slip-resistant and the nosings shall be of non slip finish.  Welded bar grating treads without nosings are acceptable, providing the leading edge can be readily identified by personnel descending the stairway and provided the tread is serrated or is of definite non slip design.”

The existing material of the current stairs greatly impacts the type of safety stair tread that is incorporated.ServiceMagic.com states that “It’s important to realize that the visual appearance of the stairs can be just as important as the slip-resistant material.”  In my opinion, if the need to incorporate a durable slip resistant surface on metal stairs, slip resistant metal safety stair treads would be a perfect solution to help decrease slips and falls.

Safety stair treads are commonly used in both residential and commercial applications to prevent slip and fall injuries, which are the second highest rated type of injury next to motor vehicle accidents. There are appropriate solutions to make any stair tread a safety tread in any situation.

ServiceMagic. “Making Your Stairs Safe.”

United States Department of Labor. “Fixed Industrial Stairs.”

As noted by Accident Recovery in Dallas, TX, “Every year there are thousands of road accidents in the United States, and over 100,000 of these involved pedestrians getting injured or killed.”  It is also stated that many of these injuries are a result of people “slipping or tripping on wet, slippery or greasy surfaces, as well as unexpected holes in sidewalks that result from missing manhole or utility covers, and other hidden hazards on areas that residential and business property owners, as well as local city, state and even federal government entities should be properly maintaining.”
(more…)

In a workplace safety article written by Jennifer Anderson titled “Michigan Regulatory Commission Advances Mandatory Ergonomics Standard”, Jennifer describes exactly what the mandatory ergonomics standard could entail for Michigan business owners.
(more…)

In an article by Todd Bateson and John Komidar titled “Cutting Costs Now Can Lead to Much Higher Costs Later” the issue of cutting costs because of the economy is reexamined.  It is a double edged sword because contractors must find a way to cut back on expenses without unintentionally creating increased costs later down the road when they are less manageable.  There are three areas where cut backs may seem feasible, but in the end, could end up costing you much more:

Quality of Materials

• Costs make up a significant portion of the budget for any project.  Projects today now draw 10-15 bidders compared to about 6 in the past.  This competitiveness usually means the lowest bidder wins and quality is compromised.  For example, a contractor bought cheaper plumbing fittings from overseas.  The fittings were manufactured with substandard materials and six months later leaked throughout the whole project.  The contractor had to replace each at a far greater price than if he bought the higher quality materials in the first place.

Preventative Maintenance

• Due to the large variety of machinery used in each industry, there is no universal figure on how much a firm should spend on prevenative maintenance.
• Ignoring preventative maintenance can cause machine malfunctions, important equipment to breakdown and even injury to workers.

Safety Initiatives

• Construction can be a dangerous industry, as statistics show; there were 1,178 construction fatalities and 371,700 lost time injuries in 2007.

Cutting back on any of the three areas mentioned will cost contractors immensely.  It could be costs to fix low quality material or costs of legal implications.  When I think of preventative measures I think of how a nosing or stair tread can be easily retrofitted over existing stairs to incorporate safety.  If a company takes too long to take action there is a good chance that an accident could happen or stairs must be completely replaced for twice the cost.

Bateson, Todd. “Cutting Costs Now Can Lead To Much Higher Costs Later”. Constructor. May/June 2009: 69-70.

When I think of slip and fall accidents, I generally think of oily manufacturing areas, large areas that are washed down frequently like food processing facilities and cluttered construction sites; rarely do I think of small office environments.
(more…)

The expense of slip and fall accidents is unfathomable.  In an article by Carol Lehtola, William Becker and Charles Brown titled “Preventing Injuries from Slips, Trips and Falls” it is stated that the cost for one disabling injury now approaches $28,000 and indirect costs are a minimum of $46,000.  In event of death, the cost is estimated at around $940,000.  These costs do not even include the personal and family costs or trauma.
(more…)

According to an article “Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls: Improving Floor Safety Protocols Can Recoup

Big Dollars for Facility Managers” by Corinne Zudonyl, “50 percent of facility accidents can actually be attributed to the type of flooring used.  Regardless of cause, these accidents can cost facilities big bucks in unemployment and liability claims.”  The author also states that slips, trips and falls make up

15 percent of all accidental deaths and are ranked second in line to auto accidents as the major cause of fatalities.

Slip and fall floor-related accidents have been identified by the following three general causes: physical, social and environmental.  The author identifies elements such as snow, rain, water, soil and dust as environmental factors that can contribute to these slip and fall incidents.  Since cleaning crews cannot be prepared for when these elements may occur, preparation could help eliminate potential accidents.

Walk-off mats are suggested to be permanently placed to help absorb moisture and soil, providing the employees with a non-slip surface, regardless of what they drag in.  However, I would suggest incorporating a metal slip-resistant flooring alternative to offer employees the peace of mind that the non-slip surface won’t suffer wear and tear from usage and over absorption.

Zudonyl references the following NFSI requirements for cleaning managers to follow when selecting the proper flooring for their business.

• Slip resistance — Make sure the flooring has a wet, static coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.6 or higher

• Ease of cleaning — If dirt and grease are difficult to remove from floors, they could build up causing a slip hazard

• Ease of maintenance — Select floor cleaners that are designed for flooring used within the facility

• Durability — Select a floor that will hold up under normal use

• Absorption — Floors that absorb too much moisture will also absorb contaminants. A high amount of moisture in a tile can also cause it to crack or become uneven

• Frost resistance — Surfaces that expand and contract with temperature changes are more likely to crack, crumble and decay over time

In addition, wearing the proper safety footwear is crucial.  “The higher the traction, the less likely a slip and fall will occur.”  High traction shoes could work together with the non-slip flooring, which in turn, would help prevent accidents and time off work.

If the proper precautions and safety methods are put into practice, facilities could save a lot of money in occupational injury costs.  Don Ostrander, CSP, director of consulting services occupational safety and health at the National Safety Council, states that “the average cost from slip and falls is $22,800 per accident.”   If facilities document hazardous areas and enforce a safety method to keep their employees safe, this cost could be significantly reduced while providing workers with a healthy and safe place to work.

Zudonyl, Corinne. “Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls.” 

We use our hands for everything, so why not protect them when they need it most?  According to an article entitled, “Better Grip Means Better Hand Protection” by Dave Shutt, the author states how a new advancement in protective work gloves helps ensure a worker’s safety when working with slippery or oily parts.  These gloves are the “first step” in the prevention of “hand injuries and product damage.”
(more…)

The mining industry is a fascinating one, full of facets that may be dangerous due to the environment of which employees work.  According to the 2008 edition of the National Safety Council’s “Injury Facts” slips and falls are leading causes of injury in the mining industry.
(more…)

As noted by Arnold & Itkin LLP of Houston, TX, “Slip and fall injuries and accidents in the workplace account for up to 20% of workers compensation payouts in the country.  The US Department of Labor estimates that close to 50% of workplace fatalities are the result of slip and fall accidents.” These facts highlight the importance of safety in the workplace.  Taking a proactive stance on workplace safety can help eliminate missed work days, increase productivity, save on costly compensation claims and keep valued employees safe.
(more…)