WALKING WORKING SURFACES (HEALTHCARE) OSHA

Employers must keep ladders in ______ condition for their workers to use and must aalso ensure that their workers use the ladders __________.

good, correctly

Floor holes less than 12" but more than 1", through which materials but not persons may fall must be _________.

guarded

Floor openings which are 12" or more in its least dimension, in a floor, platform, or yard, through which persons may fall must be __________.

guarded

Falls from scaffolds pose a serious danger to workers. This hazard can result from slipping, a lack of proper fall protection, or unsafe scaffold access. Remember, you are most vulnerable to fall hazards when climbing on or off of a scaffold.

Always be aware of your surroundings while working on a scaffold and report any fall hazards that you see.

Scaffolds which are not properly constructed can lead to a scaffold collapse. Take the time to look the scaffold over before you use it and report damage if you identify defective components.

Damaged components must be replaced before use. Scaffolds must be assembled and used according to the manufacturer. All components such as braces and pins must be present.

Regardless of height, if a worker can fall into or onto dangerous machines or equipment there must be guardrails ___________.

installed

What is the safety net system?

is a horizontal or semi-horizontal barrier containing a netting to stop falling workers before they make contact with a lower level or obstruction.

How should you keep floors?

keep floors clean and dry. floors kept clean and dry are much less likely to create a risk for slips, trips or falls.

Poor housekeeping can lead to clutter and debris in the workplace, creating additional slip, trip, and fall hazards. Employers must follow OSHA's housekeeping rules to:

keep work areas clean, orderly, and sanitary. keep floors clean and dry, or covered by the proper non-slip material. remove other waste and trash. maintain ladders and any fall protection equipment properly to avoid serious injuries.

How can you prevent injuries?

know the written housekeeping policies and times that housekeeping personnel are available in your workplace. prevent entry into areas that are wet. wear slip-resistant footwear. use additional caution when weather conditions reduce friction on outdoor surfaces.

Training must be provided in a ___________ and ___________ that workers can understand.

language, vocabulary

What type of work shoes should healthcare workers have?

low heels, and closed-toed.

When you climb or descend stairs, be sure to...

maintain 3 points of contact, never jumped down any steps on a set of stairs, never carry heavy things while walking down the stairs.

Who has a higher risk of slipping on-the-job?

workers in food services, housekeeping, and maintenance. this is due to water, grease, or other containments on the floor.

Does each floor type require a different cleaning method?

yes

What is the guardrail system?

a barrier erected along an unprotected or exposed side, edge, or other area of a walking-working surface to prevent workers from falling to a lower level.

What is a wall opening?

an opening in a wall or partition that is at least 30 inches high and 18 inches wide, and through which persons may fall.

Wall openings at least 30" high and 18" wide in any wall or partition through which persons may fall must be __________.

guarded

What is one of the most common fall prevention systems?

guardrail

What can a written housekeeping policy help with?

help ensure the quality and consistency of housekeeping procedures.

When employers provide training, a qualified person must train workers to correctly:

identify and minimize fall hazards. use personal fall protection systems and rope descent systems. maintain, inspect, and store equipment or systems used for fall protection.

What are the 3 methods to help you StartSafe and StaySafe and protect yourself from fall hazards?

using fall protection equipment, such as guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, and more. using ladders safely. obtaining adequate training.

Guardrails close to holes at points of access, like a ladder way, require a gate to prevent someone from falling through the hole, or be offset preventing someone from ______ into the hole.

walking

What is a point of contact?

where one of your hands or feet touches the ladder. in the case of climbing, your hand needs to bb gripping the sides or rungs to be considered a point of contact.

Who is required to provide PPE at no cost to you and to train you about the job hazards in a language you can understand?

your employer

Who is responsible for providing work conditions which are free from fall dangers, including keeping floors and work areas in a clean and sanitary condition?

your employer

Guardrail Opening Size cannot exceed ______ inches.

19

Floors may also be covered with a hinged or non-hinged cover. Covers should be designed to support _____ times the weight of the person or equipment that may cross it.

2

Outdoor advertising employers have ___ years to install a cage, well, ladder safety system, or personal fall arrest system on billboard fixed ladders that are not equipped with any fall protection.

2

Outdoor advertising employers have ____ years to install a ladder safety or personal fall arrest system on billboard fixed ladders that have a cage or well.

20

Guardrails must be placed around every open-sided platform, floor, or runway that is ______ feet or higher off the ground or next level.

4

What height is at a risk for a fall?

4 or more

Wire rope guardrails must be flagged with highly visible materials at least every _____ feet.

6

What is a mid-rail?

The mid-rail is secured to a guardrail's vertical posts and must: Be installed when there are no walls at least 21 inches high Withstand at least 150 lbs. of force

What is a toeboard?

The toeboard is the barrier along the floor or base of a platform that keeps materials from falling over the edge.

What is a top rail?

The top rail is secured to a guardrail's vertical posts and must: Be at least ¼ inch thick to prevent cuts and lacerations Be 39-45 inches from the working surface Withstand at least 200 lbs. of force

Scaffolds too close to power lines increase the risk of injuries and/or death to workers on the scaffolds.

You and your employer should make sure the scaffold system, your tools, and the materials you are working with stay at least 10 feet away from power lines or 3 feet away from insulated power lines.

What is a standard toeboard?

blocks an opening along the base/floor of stairs or other walking or working surfaces where materials or body parts might otherwise inadvertently fall through. It should be 4 inches high, with not more than ¼ inch clearance above the floor.

A portable ladder is any ladder that:

can be readily moved or carried is not permanently attached to a structure, building, or equipment.

Holes should always be ______ or _______ when not in use. When the holes are open, they should be guarded by removable guardrails or a human attendant.

covered, guarded

Aisles and passageways must be at least ___ feet wide, and ___ feet wider than the largest piece of equipment that will be utilized there so that both the equipment and foot traffic may safely pass.

4, 3

Fixed Industrial Stairs should be strong enough to carry ______ times the anticipated live load with a minimum of 1,000 lbs. Must be at least ___ inches wide and must be installed at angles between 30-50 degrees. Must have at least ___ feet of vertical clearance above any tread. All required to have _______ lighting.

5, 22, 7, proper.

What is the travel restraint system?

a combination of an anchorage, anchorage connector, lanyard (or other means of connection), and body support to eliminate the possibility of a worker going over the unprotected edge or side of a walking-working surface.

What is a fall hazard?

anything that may cause a person to lose their balance or bodily support, resulting in a fall.

An employer must retrain an employee through a qualified trainer when there is...

a change in workplace operations or equipment, or when a worker would benefit from additional training based on a lack of knowledge or skill.

What is the ladder safety system?

attaches to a fixed ladder to eliminate or reduce the possibility of a worker falling off a ladder. this system consists of a carrier, safety sleeve, lanyard, connectors, and body harness. cages and wells are not considered ladder safety systems.

Passageways should:

be clearly indicated, and employees should be trained in how to identify them.

All Permanent Aisles and Passageways should:

be kept clear of obstruction. permanent aisles or passageways should be clearly marked. typically, permanent passageways are marked with a painted line. the line should have a width between 2 and 6 inches.

In some cases, the work area has some slip and trip hazards which _____ be removed, and workers must use the correct _______ and be ____ of their surroundings in order to remain safe.

cannot, footwear, aware

How do you use a ladder safely?

choose the right ladder for the job, typing the top and bottom of the ladder to fixed points when necessary, and keeping your hands free and always maintaining three points of contact with the ladder while climbing.

Keys to preventing a fall from a ladder include:

choosing the right ladder for the job. tying the top and bottom of the ladder to fixed points when necessary. keeping your hands free of carrying tools or other materials when climbing a ladder.

What is standard railing?

consists of a top rail, mid rail and posts. the height from the upper surface of the top rail to the floor level is 42 inches. Mid rail height is one-half as high as the top rail (21 inches).

What should a housekeeping policy include?

contact information for the housekeeping department. the location and use of cleaning products. storage and use of wet floor signs and barriers When specific areas of the healthcare facility should be cleaned and the proper method of cleaning—for example, is the area cleaned after specific events or after each patient. cleaning methods for different areas and surfaces.

If you see fall hazards or have questions about fall prevention, you can:

contact your supervisor or employer. stop work until your employer has provided safe conditions. contact OSHA and file a complaint, if employers do not rectify hazards.

What is the positioning system?

contains connectors that, when used with a body harness, allows a worker to be supported on an elevated vertical surface, such as a wall or window sill, and work with both hands free.

A few ways to keep floors clean and dry include:

cover, clean, or report spills promptly. keep spill pads located in convenient areas. post contact numbers for housekeeping. place water absorbent mats where water, ice, or soap may drip onto the floor. use only secure, non-slip mats. maintain drip pans for ice machines and food carts.

Workers are at risk of _______ and _______ whenever they climb elevated heights on fixed ladders without fall protection.

death, injury

Once billboard ladders are equipped with some type of fall protection, outdoor advertising employers must...

ensure workers use those systems while climbing.

Stairway floor openings occur when there is a stairway that descends below the floor level. Stairway floor openings must be guarded by a standard railing on all exposed sides, except at the ________.

entrance

Screens and mesh must ____ from the top rail to the working level.

extend

Factors contributing to falls from ladders, include:

failure to safely position a ladder each time a person uses it which can result in a loss of balance. ladder slips from the top or bottom. overreaching. slipping on rungs or steps, moving or slipping from a ladder's supports. using defective equipment. selecting the wrong type of ladder for a given task.

Employers are required to provide training to workers on...

fall hazards, personal protective equipment, and ladder usage.

According to OSHA, to help workers StartSafe and StaySafe, employers must provide workers with training on various topics, including:

fall hazards, personal protective equipment, ladder usage, scaffolds.

If your employer uses bad planking or sets up a partially-planked or -decked scaffold, this increases your risk of _________.

falling

Even though employers are responsible for maintain the work area, you still have a responsibility to ________ your employer's guidelines.

follow

Why should you always wear slip-resistant footwear?

for adequate traction between feet and walking or working surfaces.

Outdoor advertising employers must equip ____ billboard ladders with a ladder safety system or personal fall arrest system.

new

The most cited OSHA ladder violations include:

not having a portable ladder extend three feet above the landing, lack of worker training, and improper use of the top of step ladders.

Falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination, and extension) are one of the leading causes of....

occupational fatalities and injuries.

Whose is required to implement OSHA's ruling for fixed ladders?

outside advertising employees

What is the number one goal of healthcare?

patient health, so you have to be extra aware of your environment to avoid slips, trips, and falls.

What are fixed ladders?

permanently attached to a structure, building, or equipment. this includes: individual-rung ladders, but not ship stairs, step bolts, or manhole steps.

Any fixed ladders installed on or after December 19, 2008 must have only...

personal fall systems or ladder safety systems.

What creates additional slip and trip hazards?

poor housekeeping

In a healthcare workplace, shoes should also...

prevent a loss of balance while walking, and help provide protection from things like biological fluids.

Any worker ascending more than 24 feet, must be a...

qualified climber with additional training.

Outdoor advertising employers must ensure that each qualified climber:

receives training and demonstrates the physical capability to perform climbs; wears a body harness equipped with an 18-inch rest lanyard; keeps both hands free when climbing the fixed ladder; and uses fall protection after reaching the work position.

Outdoor advertising employers must equip billboard ladder and section ________ with a ladder safety system or personal fall arrest system.

replacements

Employers are ________ to have ladder safety or personal fall arrest systems for fixed ladders that extend more than ___ feet, rather than cages or wells for fall protection.

required, 24

Employers must also ________ workers in specified high hazard situations, on appropriate fall hazards equipment, and protection systems.

retrain

What type of materials provide a large amount of friction between the shoe and walking surface?

rubber

To decrease the number of falls and accidents using portable ladders at the workplace, OSHA requires employers to ensure that:

rungs and steps are slip resistant. ladders used on slippery surfaced are secured and stabilized. ladders are not moved, shifted, or extended while a worker is on them. top steps and caps of stepladders are not used as steps. ladders are not fastened together ro provided added length, unless designed for such use. ladders are not placed on boxes, barrels, or other unstable bases to obtain added height.

Guardrail Construction must be...

smooth enough to protect workers from cuts and avoid snagging their clothes.

Why is it important that a healthcare worker learning and knowing about the housekeeping policy?

so they know how to deal with emergency situations that result in unsafe floor conditions in your work environment. preparing for these kinds of occurrences is your best bet for avoiding injury.

OSHA requires that stairs in your workplace must meet certain standards:

stairs must have handrails if they have four or more steps. these handrails must be 36 to 37 inches above the stairs themselves and, stairs must not be used to store items permanently or temporarily.

Falling through a floor opening could cause serious injury. To be properly guarded, a floor opening should have both a.....

standard railing and a standard toe board.

What is the personal fall arrest system?

stops a fall before the worker contacts a lower level. the system consists of a body harness, anchorage, and connector, and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or a suitable combination. OSHA strictly prohibits the use of body belts as a part of a personal fall arrest system.

Fixed Industrial Stairs are around:

tanks, machinery, equipment, platforms, pits etc.

The greater the amount of friction...

the less likely it is that the shoe will slip while someone is walking.

When you climb a ladder, it's important that you maintain at least ___ points of contact at any time to safely ascend or descend the ladder.

three

Why should healthcare workers have closed-toed shoes?

to prevent exposure to body fluids or medical equipment, liked syringes, used during an emergency.

What does slip-resistance refer to?

to the amount of friction between the shoe and a walking surface.

Workers can be injured on scaffolds by being struck by falling objects. This can include:

tools that fall from one level to the next or debris that can come loose while work is ongoing.

Placing an absorbent slip pad onto the wet floor is an example of....

trying to keep the floors clean and dry in a healthcare environment.

Having three points of contact with a ladder means:

two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand are all properly touching the ladder while you climb or descend.