labor lawAdivision of labor law center

When you think of hazards in the workplace, you probably think of faulty scaffolding, dangerous machinery or tanker truck explosions. Yet, the most common hazard in the workplace is far more mundane.

Wet floors and crowded hallways are two of the main causes of slips, trips, and falls in the workplace.

Cleaning up and posting an updated Wyoming  Slips Trips Falls Poster are ways employers can enhance safety and comply with revised Delaware OSHA standards.

Slips, trips, and falls are a more serious source of injury than is often realized. According to OSHA – the Occupational Safety and Health Administration – slips, trips, and falls follow only motor vehicle accidents as a cause of death. They represent 15% of all accidental deaths, and are probably the number one accident issue in industry generally.

Most of the frequently ignored guidelines for preventing slips, trips, and falls, involve cleanup, or simple housekeeping. According to OSHA, workplaces – specifically storerooms, service rooms, and passageways, must be kept clean and orderly.

Here are some of the OSHA workplace housekeeping standards:

• The floors of all workrooms must be kept clean, and dry wherever possible. Where the work involves what are called “wet processes,” drainage is required, along with mats, raised platforms, or gratings.
• All passageways, floors, and work spaces generally must be kept free of certain objects – splinters, nails, holes, and loose boards.
• Aisles and passages must be kept repaired and clear. No potentially hazardous obstructions are allowed.
• Permanent passageways and aisles must be appropriately marked.
• Aisles must be wide enough to accommodate mechanical handling equipment.
• There must be room enough for two people to pass.

A way for employees to cope with these kinds of accidents is to prominently post a Slips Trips Falls Poster – brought up to date to reflect the recent Wyoming OSHA standards. The poster reminds employees to clean up after each spill. A solid safety awareness policy is critical. 

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