Falls

Falls

Falls are one of the most common causes of injuries at the worksite and at home. They can cause minor injuries, such as a twisted ankle. They can also cause serious injuries such as a fracture, a severe head injury, or a back or neck injury that involves spinal cord damage. Falls can result from simple things such as tripping on a curb. They can also result from more dramatic situations such as tumbling down a flight of stairs or sliding off a roof. You don’t have to fall from a height to be injured. Slipping on level ground can cause serious injury when you land.

In North America, falls account for 5 deaths each year for every 100,000 people. The National Safety Council reports that in the U.S. alone, over 8,500 deaths occur every year from falls in or around the home. And for every fatality, many are injured. Seniors are more likely to be injured in falls than any other age group.

Help prevent falls by practicing good housekeeping and by taking care on stairs, in the bathtub, on ladders, and on ice and snow.

Good Housekeeping
Good housekeeping can greatly reduce the chance of falls. If you notice things that someone might trip over, pick them up immediately. Wipe up spills; a slippery floor is a dangerous floor. Flatten out any carpet with a fold in it; this is enough to trip someone up. Keep the hallways and main pathways of your house clear. This is also important in case of a fire. Even in the yard, make sure you practice good housekeeping habits. Pick up children’s toys and your tools. Someone can twist or break an ankle just by stepping on an uneven part of the lawn.

Stairs
As a paramedic I have often been called out to attend to someone who’s fallen on the stairs and been seriously hurt. Often the cause of a serious fall on the stairs is misjudging the end of the stair.

A few things to keep in mind about stair safety:

Keep stairs in good repair.

Make sure the stairway is well lit. Replace burned out light bulbs quickly.

Handrails can prevent a fall by helping you keep your balance. Make sure the handrail is secured properly. Check to see if it will hold an adult’s weight. If not, try using longer screws to secure it. Handrails aren’t for show; keep a hand on the rail when using the stairs.

Avoid leaving objects on the stairs. Toys, books and other things should be kept off the stairs.

Stairs aren’t a play area. Establish a “no-running-on-the-stairs” rule in your home.

Avoid using area carpets at the top of stairs. If the carpet slides, it can result in a tumble down the stairs.

Thick padding or carpet on stairs will reduce the usable width of the tread.

Keep all carpets and plastic runners, etc., secure at all times. If a tack that was securing the runner comes out, the runner can slide and cause a fall.

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One man I attended to fell down three stairs in front of his house on his way to work. The stairs were unsafe, and the man tripped and fell when he stepped on a rotten board and broke through it. The fall broke his neck and damaged his spinal cord. He was paralyzed. His wife said he had meant to fix those stairs for the past month.
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Bathtubs
Fiberglass and porcelain shower floors and bathtubs become even more slippery when wet. This is why so many people injure themselves when in the tub.

When showering or bathing, remember:

Use caution when stepping into or out of the tub. Use a high quality tub mat to reduce the chance of slipping.

When a person slips, often there is nothing to grab on to. Installing grab bars, like handrails, can help save someone from a serious fall. Make sure the grab bars are securely mounted into the wall studs and not just into drywall or tiles.

Have a bath mat ready to step on when getting out of the tub or shower. Water makes a floor slippery.

When you stand up getting out of a hot bath, you may become dizzy. Stand up slowly.

Ladders
Ladders are useful tools. We use them for painting, cleaning gutters (eaves troughs), washing windows, and putting the angel on top of the Christmas tree. But without the proper safety precautions, using them can be dangerous. When purchasing a ladder, make sure you’re buying one that is appropriate for the job. Don’t use a 4-foot ladder for a job requiring a 6-foot ladder. Make sure the ladder is strong enough to support your weight. When using extension ladders try to have someone hold the ladder steady while you’re on it. In winter, there might be slippery surfaces; make sure the base of the ladder is in a safe position so it won’t slide when you’re on it. Avoid setting the ladder up on ice.
General tips

Use a ladder that is suitable for the job. Don’t try to make due with a ladder that is the wrong height.

Face the ladder when climbing up or coming down.

Take your time when climbing a ladder. Climb one step at a time.

Don’t stand on the top two rungs. This will make you unstable.

Avoid overreaching to do the work. Get down and move the ladder over. This will make your work easier and safer.

Don’t overload the ladder beyond its maximum intended load.

When you go up or down a ladder always maintain three points of contact with the ladder, i.e., two feet and one hand.

Don’t shift or try to “walk” the ladder when you’re on it. This is tempting if you just have to move a very short distance. Don’t do it.

If you’re uncomfortable with heights or inexperienced with ladders, get someone who is experienced to do the work for you.

Don’t use ladders near power lines.

If possible, have someone stand at the foot of the ladder and hold it to keep it stable as you climb.

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A man was cleaning leaves from his roof gutter. He leaned over the side of the ladder to reach the last two feet of gutter. He lost his balance and fell, landing on his back on a picket fence. The damage to his spinal cord caused paralysis from approximately four inches below his mid-chest to his toes.
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Using a step ladder

Make sure the ladder is in good shape; it shouldn’t wobble. Check all nuts and bolts for tightness. Make sure there are no cracks in the steps or in the beams of a wooden ladder. In metal ladders, check for kinks or bends.

Put the ladder on a firm, flat surface. The ladder could tip over if placed on soft ground. If you must use it on soft ground, place its feet on a piece of ¾-inch plywood that is at least 10 inches wider and deeper than the base of the ladder. This support will act like a snowshoe or ski to distribute the ladder’s weight.

Open the step ladder as far as it will go and make sure the spreader arms are locked in place.

Using an extension ladder

Make sure the ladder is in good condition. It should have no cracks, large chips, kinks or bends.

The ladder should have non-slip feet.

Use the ladder on firm, even ground. If the ground is uneven or soft, place the feet of the ladder on a piece of ¾ -inch plywood that is large enough to support both feet.

Secure the top of the ladder (tying if firmly to something stable) to help prevent the top of the ladder from moving.

The correct angle for an extension ladder is 75 degrees. Here’s how to estimate this angle: Stand with your toes against the feet of the ladder. Keep your back straight and hold your arms straight out in front of you at shoulder level. Your fingers should reach the ladder. Here’s another way to determine the correct angle: make sure that for every four feet up the ladder is one foot out from the building. In industry, this is called the 4 to 1 ratio.

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Two fire fighters were on a ladder when they opened up the nozzle of the fire hose. The force from the water pouring from the hose pushed the men back, tipping the ladder over. One fire fighter broke his arm as a result. (The ladder may not have been at the proper angle.)
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Roofs
It’s difficult to work on a roof. If you own a house, you might go up on the roof several times a year. You might need to clean the eaves troughs (rain gutters), fix the chimney, adjust the antenna, put up Christmas lights or replace shingles. You might also need to check the roof for leaks before winter. Roof work can be dangerous if you ignore proper safety precautions. If you fall you can be injured or killed. When you work on a roof, how can you protect yourself from falling? There is no easy answer. Safety precautions and the right equipment can help.

Remember these safety tips if you plan to work on a roof:

If you’re not comfortable working on the roof, hire someone. It will be worth the peace of mind.

Use safe ladder techniques. See Ladders.

Use scaffolding or a man-lift if you need them.

Stay away from power lines!

Wait for a calm, dry day. Stay off the roof if it’s wet or icy. Avoid climbing on steep roofs.

Don’t carry tools and supplies up the ladder with you. Use a rope to pull them up after you. You’ll need both hands for climbing the ladder.

Place your tools where they won’t fall off the roof and injure someone. Keep bystanders away.

Wear rubber-soled shoes when working on a roof.

Use extreme caution when installing your Christmas lights or shoveling snow off the roof.

This information was taken from the book, “I Won’t be in to Work Today - Preventing Injuries at Home, Work and Play” by Martin Lesperance. To order this book or to find out more information, go to www.safete.com and click on books and products. Sign up for his free safety newsletter at www.safete.com. Martin is a fire fighter/paramedic whose humorous talks stress that safety should be a twenty-four hour concern.

Martin Lesperance is a fire fighter/paramedic and is the author of the best selling book "I Won’t be in to Work Today – Preventing Injuries at Home, Work and Play" . Martin delivers keynote presentations dealing with injury prevention. His talks are funny, but still have a strong underlying message. Visit his website at www.safete.com