 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Safety Facts
The average cost of a worker fall is $12,470, increasing to over $26,000 when lost production and other costs are factored in. At a profit margin of 10%, more than $250,000 of revenue needs to be generated to cover a single slip/fall loss. Costs are higher for falls sustained by the public. Slip and Fall Prevention:
Slip and Fall FactsSLIP – FALL STATISTICS Over 540,000 slip-fall injuries, requiring hospital care, occur in North America each year. The next victim could be you. Slip and falls account for over 300,000 disabling injuries per year in North America. One in three serious bone breaks for seniors result in death, within one year of the accident. Slip and falls account for over 20,000 fatalities per year in North America – i.e. 55 persons per day. It is the second leading cause of accidental death and disability after automobile accidents. Slip and falls kill more workers than all other combined forms of workplace accidents. Slip and falls are the number one cause of accidents in Hotels, Restaurants and Public Buildings; 70% occur on flat and level surfaces. Slips and falls are the leading cause of death in the workplace and the source of more than 20% of all disabling injuries. Slip-fall accidents account for 30% of all reported injuries. Two out of three fall deaths occur in the home and our elderly are primary victims. 66% of injury cases for people 65 years or older were a result of a fall and over 75% of slip-fall deaths occur to people 65 years of age or older. Fifty-five percent of persons over 40 years have sustained at least one debilitating injury, due to a slip and fall incident. There are estimated to be 8 million slip-fall accidents per year in North America. Falls make up nearly half of ALL home accidents. There are estimated to be 104 million lost workdays per year – i.e. 65% of all lost man-hours. That’s over 4000 lifetimes. There are social burdens related to this problem, including Worker’s Compensation claims – i.e. 40% of all accident claims paid out. Worker’s Compensation and Liability Insurance Rates are increasing on the average of 30% per year. The focus should be on prevention, not compensation. In the home, the bathroom and kitchen account for a staggering number of slip and fall injuries. Making the total expense resulting from Slip-fall injuries an 36 BILLION-dollar a year problem in North America, or over a $100 million per day problem.
There are a number of reasons why you can't afford not to protect your business from slips and falls.More... SLIP & FALL STATISTICS
IN A SURVEY TAKEN BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
THE NATIONAL FLOOR SAFETY INSTITUTE FOUND
Definitions Accident; In liability insurance, particularly older forms, an event that must cause bodily injury or property damage trigger coverage. Modern liability policies, such as the commercial general liability policy, use the broader term "occurrence" instead of "accident." Slip and Fall Injury Statistics & Prevention - The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 303,800 workplace fall injuries in 2000. - A new American National Standard from the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) focuses on reducing slip and fall injuries in the workplace, the second leading cause of incidental workplace deaths. - A1264.2 Standard for the Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking/Working Surfaces explores surface characteristics, footwear traction properties and environmental factors of slip resistance to ensure a safer walking and working environment. The standard provides basic guidelines for professionals to apply to their own workplace. - According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 15 percent of incidental workplace deaths are caused by slips, trips and falls, second only to traffic accident fatalities.
The standard covers: - floor characteristics, including how to install mats and runners; - controlling access to areas with slippery environment and providing appropriate signage; - footwear traction properties, such as a shoe’s sole design to ensure slip resistance; - housekeeping training and maintenance; - surface testing equipment; and - floor selection. --Source, ISHN Online, ASSE. A variety of policies and practices can be established to reduce the number of injuries and deaths due to slips, trips and falls. A few suggestions: - Owners, managers and supervisors must make a commitment to prevent accidental slips, trips and falls. - Conduct frequent inspections of working and walking areas to identify any hazards that could cause slips, trips and falls. Special attention should be given to working and walking surfaces, housekeeping, lighting, visibility, stairways and ladders. Immediately correct dangerous situations. - As mandated by OSHA, provide extensive safety training on the prevention of slips, trips and falls for all new employees. Regular retraining should be provided for all employees. Give special attention to proper walking, carrying, and climbing as well as descending stairways, ladders, vehicles and equipment. Unsafe practices should be corrected immediately. - All workers should wear proper footwear for their work and environment whether in the office, shop, plant, or field. - Prohibit riders on tractors, trucks or other self-powered or towed equipment unless a safe seat or workstation is provided. - ANSI sets standards for shoes and boots. Never purchase work shoes that do not meet these standards. A typical ANSI rating could be 1-75 C-25. This means the toe will withstand 75 foot pounds of impact and 2,500 pounds of compression. Tips for safe footwear: - The soles and heels should be slip-resistant - The toe of the shoe should resist crushing injuries - The shoe should support the ankle |
