Document 8Vw43aqJ63D6DnnOb3G50nM3e

(0 o bling hazards Spilled materials must be a * cleaned up promptly (See Fig 22-4 ) 3 Reducing or Eliminating the Hazards P io l" r i*- c3 CD ^ O E = end HgE o2 " 0= a 5 * -o ->2 ^u rH8.-2oBO"'JO2< ^Q o Co aO c w^a (oQ2UOe O c"cco .c O _ 5S^?es c E Ol Slips and falls Floors, stairs, and other walking surfaces are hazardous enough when they are clean, clear, and free of defects--they are a major source of slips and falls Since the footwear worn by non-employees cannot be controlled, the safety professional must make sure that walk ing surfaces offer no additional problems Walking surfaces should be non-slippery, clear and in good repair, and adequately illumi nated Shpmeters developed by testing agencies and insurance companies measure the slippenness of floors One type of instrument (see Fig 22-5) is mounted on three leather "feet " It is pulled across the floor by a motorized winch, the dial on top measures the intensity of the pull required to start moving it This is converted into a "slip index " Floor shppenness, however, may increase because of moisture, oil, grease, foreign or waste ma terials, and incorrect cleaning or waxing Falls on floors occur in various ways and from various causes A person may slip and thus lose traction, or he may tnp over an open drawer, box in the aisle, or other object In either case, he may suffer an injurious fall In nearly every floor fall accident claim, this condition is alleged to have existed However, of the actual unsafe conditions the primary mechanical causes of falls on floors are, in reality, unobserved, misplaced, or poorly designed movable equipment, fixtures, or displays, poor housekeeping, and defective equipment Obviously, the condition of shoes or type of footwear soles and heels might be major contributing factors Inadequate illumination can also be a cause of falls Light values at floor level should be uniform with no glare or shadows Also, there should be no violent contrasts in bght levels between floor areas, such as from bright sunlight outside the entrance to a dimly lit lounge or restauiant Undoubtedly, a large percentage of falls stem from unsafe acts and from purely per sonal causes such as age, illness, emotional 579