Section 12: Slips, Trips and Falls Safety Policy

12.1      Slips, Trips & Falls - General

This Slips, Trips, & Falls Safety Policy shall be administered by the facilities manager and shall be reviewed and updated as appropriate.
 

12.2      Housekeeping Policy

A.      All offices, work stations, work areas, passageways, storerooms, restrooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean, orderly, sanitary, and free of known hazards.

B.      All floors shall be maintained in a clean, orderly, and, so far as possible, dry condition. 

C.      Sufficient illumination shall be provided in all areas.  Lighting deficiencies shall be reported to the facilities manager for correction.

D.      Each employee shall be responsible for maintaining their immediate work area in a clean and orderly manner, and for notifying the facilities manager of conditions that are beyond their control.

E.      Supervisors shall ensure that machines and equipment under their control are properly maintained. 

F.      All walls shall be painted, and maintained in a clean and orderly manner.

1. Postings shall be confined to bulletin boards and other appropriate areas.

G.      Emergency exits shall be kept free of obstacles at all times.  Any employee who finds an emergency door blocked shall immediately report the condition to the facilities manager for correction.  Exit lights and signs shall be maintained in proper condition at all times, and immediately reported if deficient.

H.      Large (more than 1 quart), non-hazardous spills shall be contained and immediately reported to the facilities manager.

 

12.3      Aisles and Passageways

A.      Where mechanical handling equipment, such as tow motors, are used, sufficient safe clearances shall be maintained for aisles at loading docks, through doorways, and wherever turns or passage must be made.  Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear with no obstruction that could create a hazard across or in the aisles.

B.      Permanent aisles and passageways shall be appropriately marked.
 

12.4      Covers and Guardrails

Covers and/or guardrails shall be provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.
 

12.5      Guarding Floor and Wall Openings & Holes

A.      Stairway floor openings shall be guarded by a standard railing.  Railings shall be provided on all exposed sides (except at entrances to stairways). 

B.      Ladderway floor openings or platforms shall be guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboards on all exposed sides (except at the entrance to the opening), with the passage through the railing either provided with a gate or offset so that a person cannot walk directly into the opening.

C.      Temporary floor openings shall have standard railings or shall be constantly attended.
 

12.6      Definitions

A.      Floor Hole:  An opening measuring less than 12 inches but more than 1 inch in its least dimension, in any floor, platform, pavement, or yard, through which materials but not persons may fall; such as a belt hole, pipe opening, or slot opening.

B.      Floor Opening:  An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension, in any floor, platform, pavement, or yard through which persons may fall; such as a hatchway, stair or ladder opening, pit, or large manhole.  Floor openings occupied by elevators, dumb waiters, conveyors, machinery, or containers are excluded.

C.      Handrail:  A single bar or pipe supported on brackets from a wall or partition, as on a stairway or ramp, to furnish persons with a handhold in case of tripping.

D.      Platform:  A working space for persons, elevated above the surrounding floor or ground; such as a balcony or platform for the operation of machinery and equipment.

E.      Runway:  A passageway for persons, elevated above the surrounding floor or ground level, such as a footwalk along shafting or a walkway between buildings.

F.      Standard Railing:  A vertical barrier erected along exposed edges of a floor opening, wall opening, ramp, platform, or runway to prevent falls of persons.

G.      Standard Strength and Construction:  Any construction of railings, covers, or other guards that meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.23.

H.      Stair Railing:  A vertical barrier erected along exposed sides of a stairway to prevent falls of persons.

I.      Toeboard:  A vertical barrier at floor level erected along exposed edges of a floor opening, wall opening, platform, runway, or a ramp to prevent falls of materials.

J.      Wall Hole:  An opening less than 30 inches but more than 1 inch high, of unrestricted width, in any wall or partition; such as a ventilation hole or drainage scupper.

K.      Wall Opening:  An opening at least 30 inches high and 18 inches wide, in any wall or partition, through which persons may fall; such as a yard-arm doorway or chute opening.

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