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CDB2012
Health, Safety and
Environment
FALLING , IMPACT, ACCELERATION
and LIFTING HAZARDS
Lecture 7
Dr. Abrar Inayat
Lecture Outcome
By the end of this lecture, students should be able to:
Differentiate between falling, impact, acceleration
and lifting hazards
Identify factors causing falls & the preventive
strategy
List the fall protection system
Describe ladder safety
Describe impact & acceleration hazards and their
preventive strategy
Practice good lifting method and avoiding hazards.
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A fall can be fatal, especially if head
injuries are incurred.
Falls are a major cause of accidental
death in the home and the workplace.
The consequences of a fall depend on
three major factors:
Velocity of the initial impact
Magnitude of deceleration upon impact
Orientation of the body upon impact
Falls
Causes of Falls
A foreign object on the walking surface
any object that is in a position to trip someone or cause a slip.
Design flaw in the walking surface
uneven surfaces, poorly designed floor coverings, etc.
Slippery surfaces
poor choice of material, accidental spills, poor housekeeping etc.
An individuals impaired physical condition
visual impairment/distraction, lack of awareness etc.
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Step and fall
accidents occur when a persons foot encounters an
unexpected step down (e.g. a hole in the floor or a
floorboard that gives way).
Slip and fall
accidents occur when the workers center of gravity
is suddenly thrown out of balance (e.g. an oily spot
causes a foot to shoot out from under the worker).
Kinds of Surface Falls
0.2 0.4 0.3
Slipper and
hazardous
Slippery but
not
hazardous
Good
traction
Very
slippery and
very hazardous
Ice
0.10
Concrete
0.43
Linoleum
0.33
Surface Traction
Surface traction is the force that prevents an object, such
as a wheel, from sliding on a surface.
Related to the coefficient of friction.
Coefficient of friction is a numerical comparison of the
resistance of one surface against another surface.
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Require non-skid footwear
wear shoes with special non-skid soles.
Inspect surfaces frequently
There should be frequent inspections and action should be
taken immediately when a hazard is identified.
Strategies For Preventing
Slips & Falls
A Few Quick Questions
Is it a good idea to
have a door
opening onto a
stairway?
What sort of tiles
would you use for
bathroom/kitchen
floors?
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Fall Protection
Very vital in the construction industry.
It is recommended that any employee
working higher than 6 feet must be provided
with fall protection.
This height limit is known as the trigger
height.
Fall protection: e.g. guardrails, safety nets,
fall restraint system, fall arrest system etc.
Fall arrest system: system that will stop a
workers fall before the worker hits the ground
below.
Fall restraint system: system that restrains
movement of a worker so to position the worker or
to prevent the worker from moving to an edge.
These systems may include: body harness/belt,
lanyard, shock absorber, lifeline, connecting
devices, anchorage.
Fall Protection
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Full
body
harnes
s
Shock
absorbing
lanyard
Anchor point
Personal Fall Arrest
System
Anchorage
Lifeline
Personal Fall
Restraint System
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Ladder Safety
The accident happened right after
lunch... I was the first one going up
the ladder and I was almost to the
roof. And another guy had followed
me up the ladder...It was an old
ladder and it busted in the middle.
--Ed Kandel, Roofer injured in fall
Ladder Hazard
Most ladder deaths involve falls of 10 feet or less.
The average persons reaction time is half a second. In
that time you fall 4 feet.
As you fall, gravity pulls you down and your speed
quickly increases. That means your impact force
increases too. And, once you start falling, you will stop
only when you hit a lower surface.
A person who weighs about 200 pounds and falls just
6 feet will hit the ground with almost 10,000 pounds
of force.
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Ladder Hazards
Ladders with missing or broken parts.
Using a ladder with too low weight
rating.
Using a ladder that is too short for the
purpose.
Using metal ladders near energized
electrical equipment.
Objects falling from ladders.
Ladder Inspection
Inspect ladders before each use!
All rungs and steps are free of oil, grease, dirt, etc.
All fittings are tight.
Spreaders or other locking devices are in place.
Non-skid safety feet are in place.
No structural defects, all support braces intact.
Make sure the ladder is placed on an even surface.
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Climbing Step by Step
Face Ladder Going Up & Down
When climbing any ladder, you must face it. Never turn out or away.
Use 3-Point Contact
3-point contact means you have 2 hands and 1 foot or 1 hand and 2 feet
in contact with the ladder at all times. It is the safest and most sensible
way to go up and down a ladder, and youll always be sure to have at
least one hand on the ladder.
One Person at a time
Wait for the person who went up the ladder first to get all the way off at
the top. Then you can climb. This applies when coming down the ladder,
too.
Be aware when getting on and off
Be especially careful as you step onto and off of the ladder. To make
sure you have the proper foothold at the top of the ladder, you should be
able to fit your foot on the step closest to the upper landing without your
toes hitting the wall.
Climbing Step by Step
No standing on top 3 rungs of straight or extension ladder
On straight or extension ladders, you can climb up only to the fourth
rung from the top.
Keep Centered
Follow the belt buckle rule by keeping your body centered within the
ladders side rails.
Carry no Loads
Carry only small objects in a tool kit on your belt. You cannot carry any
load that could cause you to lose your balance. Use hoists or chain falls
to lift materials.
Avoid Exerting Force
To maintain stability while on the ladder, dont pull, lean, stretch, or make
sudden moves. These could all cause you to lose your balance. And,
never try to take a shortcut by walking a ladder over to a new position.
No standing on top or top step of stepladder
On an A-frame or stepladder, climb no higher than the second step from
the top. Never climb on the cross bracing. And never sit on any step,
including the top.
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Impact And Acceleration Hazards
Impact and acceleration hazards refer to
falling/moving objects that accelerate until
impacting a surface.
To safeguard from such
hazards, Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) are used.
One out of every seven
construction deaths involves
someone crushed or hit by
falling or moving objects
Recognition
Crushed/hit deaths include construction people killed by
collapsing buildings
falling walls or structures
heavy objects or loads
falling material or wreckage.
Victims were
demolishing part of a building
erecting a wall or structure that collapsed
moving heavy objects or loads
installing building material that fell.
Impact And Acceleration Hazards
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Head Protection
To protect the head from the impact
and penetration of falling or flying
objects in the workplace.
Common terms are hard hats,
safety hats and safety helmets
Designed for high mass, low velocity or
low mass, high velocity impact.
Protection from injury by physical agents,
chemicals agents or radiation.
Safety goggles
glass: greater resistance to abrasion,
scratching & most chemicals.
plastic: more resistance to high-speed
projectiles, breakage by sharp objects &
more shatter-resistant at extreme
temperatures.
Eye and Face Protection
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Foot Protection
Protects against:
Falling objects
Rolling objects
Punctures through the
sole
Electrical hazards
Slips
Temperature extremes
Lifting Hazards
Back injuries are typically
caused by improper
lifting, ergonomic factors
and personal lifestyles.
Most back injuries can be
prevented.
Back injuries are among common workplace
problems.
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STAND
close
to the
load
Let
your
legs do
the
lifting
Bend
your
knees,
not your
back!
Get Help
with
heavy or
awkward
loads!
Use
the
right
tools!
Use Your Head and Save
Your Back!
Safe Lifting
Summary
We learnt about:
the difference between falling, impact,
acceleration and lifting hazards
factors causing falls & the preventive strategy
the fall protection system
ladder safety
good lifting method and avoiding hazards
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