STAND DOWN FOR SAFETY
May 7-11, 2018

Each year, OSHA, NOISH and the ASSE partner to raise fall hazard awareness across the country.  Together as a team, we will use on-site trainings, text messages, tweets, our websites, the weekly closet talk, and good communication to promote this important safety week. 

Slips, Trips, and Falls continue to be our largest hazard and most costly accident type.  By creating a better awareness, we can provide our staff with the education and knowledge that they need to stay on their feet!  During this week, coordinate with your staff to have a quick on-site meeting/closet talk on the attached document and post the poster. (have them sign off on the training!)  If this is not feasible, the weekly closet talk will cover the information as well.  The more people we can get this to the better and I need your help to do so!

PRINT THIS POSTER NOW

Why is B and B Maintenance, Inc. Participating?
Injuries caused by falls continue to be the leading accident type for B and B Maintenance, Inc. staff members. In 2015, B and B Maintenance, Inc. sustained 16 slip, trip, and fall accidents! 2016 resulted in 7, 2017 was 9. In total, this resulted in over 100 loss time days and over $450,000 in costs! Even though this number is going down from trainings, education, and inspections, we still have this dreaded hazard in our industry and those injuries were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries. 

Safety Stand Down - Closet Talk

Physical Forces in a Fall
Falls occur whenever a person moves too far away from his or her center of balance. Slips and trips often push workers off their center of balance far enough to cause a fall, but there are many other ways to fall. Makeshift ladders, misuse of ladders, accidents while climbing, and improper scaffolding use also cause falls. 
Friction—The resistance between things, such as between your footwear and the walking surface.
Momentum—Speed and size make up the scientific measure of momentum. In terms of the workplace, it means that large items moving at higher speeds will fall harder than the same item moving at a slower speed.
Gravity—Obviously, this is the force that pulls you to the ground when you fall. The key point here is to keep your balance so you don't fall.

Most falls are from slips or trips at ground level, but falls from greater heights pose a much greater risk of serious injury. Avoid falls of any kind by following these safety measures:
● Make sure hallways, stairs, and work areas are properly lit.
● Repair or report stairs or handrails that are loose or broken.
● Don't use stairs or aisles as storage areas.
● Wear shoes appropriate for the job, perhaps flat shoes with nonskid soles. 

Unapproved Objects to Stand On
Sometimes our staff likes to stand on unapproved objects to gain height access and this is a major NO NO in our industry. No matter the job, no matter how important it is NOT that important to put yourself at risk. If a task can not be completed because of a hazard, contact your Supervisor and report the situation immediately!

• NEVER work from desks, counters, chairs, etc.
• NEVER stand on unapproved objects!
• NEVER climb over objects!
• Using handrails on stairs whenever possible.
• Only carrying loads that they can see over
• Reporting unsafe conditions promptly, including broken stair treads, floorboards, or handrails on stairs. 

Ladders
The following guidelines will help make working with ladders a safe prospect:

• Do not use makeshift ladders, for example, from piling up boxes, chairs, or benches.
• Inspect the ladder before use.
• Do not use a ladder that has missing or broken rungs or other defects.
• If you're not the one using the ladder, stay well away from it to avoid falling objects and the chance of unbalancing the ladder. 

Thank-you for participating in the 2018 B and B Maintenance, Inc. Stand Down for Safety! 

David M. Grum
EHS Director
C: 847.833.0844
DGrum@BBMaint.com