1/26/09

Avoid Slips, Trips and Falls

An employee was walking up the stairway from Building 88 to the upper parking lot when he slipped, hitting his forehead and nose on the the stair, causing contusions and abrasions. Conditions were dry, and there was ample lighting, but slipping may have been caused by several factors: the leather-soled shoes the employee was wearing; fatigue, as the incident happened at the end of the day; or the fact that the employee was carrying a laptop and did not have a hand free to hold onto the handrail. Remember, when climbing stairways, always have a free hand to grip the handrail, and wear appropriate shoes while traversing the hill and stairways. Rubber soled shoes are more likely to provide better grip on the Lab’s hilly terrain.