Course Transcript

[Course title: Home Office: Slips, Trips, and Falls 2.0.] The shift to more flexible working arrangements means that working from home has become a way of life for many people. When working from home, it's easy to be lulled in a false sense of security – after all, you're working in a space you're very familiar with, and you know your way around. However, the reality is that you're exposed to just as many work-related risks to your health and safety at home as you are when working from your employer's premises.

One of the most common causes of injuries at home is slips, trips, and falls. These injuries don't just result in pain, lost work time, and large medical bills; they can be fatal too. According to the National Safety Council, slips, trips, and falls rank second only to poisoning as a cause of accident-related fatalities in the home.

In this course, you'll learn to identify common fall hazards in the home office environment and how to use a ladder safely. You'll also learn specific practices for preventing slips, trips, and falls on walkways and stairs.

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[Topic title: Fall Hazards and Ladder Safety.] Working from the comfort of your own home comes with many advantages, but it's not without safety challenges. It's easy to get complacent and forget that work-related injuries can happen at home just like they do in the workplace. Some of the most dangerous safety hazards – which may actually increase in the home environment – are slipping, tripping, and falling.

Injuries caused by slips, trips, and falls can range from relatively minor muscle strains, sprains, and torn ligaments to more severe injuries, like spinal injuries and broken bones. In extreme instances, they can even result in fatalities.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, requires employers to keep employees safe at work by establishing safety programs and training in a variety of safe work practices. This includes how to recognize slip, trip, and fall hazards and how to perform duties safely on walking and working surfaces. When you're working from home, you should follow similar practices to ensure your floors, doorways, hallways, and stairs are safe.

While it may not be possible to prevent all slips, trips, and falls, it is possible to prevent most of them. You can help protect yourself and others in your home by developing safe habits, learning to recognize risks, eliminating hazardous conditions, and keeping an eye out for the unexpected.

There are several fall hazard conditions in the home office environment that can lead to serious injuries. One common condition is slippery surfaces – for example, around a spilled glass of milk or water spilled from a pet's bowl. Outdoor surfaces can present a slipping hazard as well, for example, if the pathway to the mailbox is icy or wet. Because transitions from one walking surface to another can also present fall hazards, you should be particularly careful of moisture at outdoor to indoor transitions, where ice or snow can be tracked indoors. That why it's best to have floor mats where you can wipe your feet when you transition from outside to inside.

Another hazard is sitting improperly in a chair. For instance, sitting too far forward can cause your chair to tip over, as can sitting too far back with your feet up on the desk. Clutter on the floor or at transitions, like toys or electrical cords, can also cause falls.

Clutter, spills, and other obstacles can become even more dangerous if you can't see them in time to avoid them. That's why poor lighting is another fall hazard condition, especially if you are a "night owl" in your work habits.

Now, because proper lighting goes a long way to preventing slips and trips in your home, when you see a burnt-out light bulb, you'll want to replace it immediately. And since you're at home, you might be tempted to climb on a table or counter or grab a chair to stand on. But even though this task seems fairly straightforward, you can easily fall if you haven't taken the proper precautions.

To prevent falls, always use a proper ladder when you have to reach high-up locations. Even if you think the task is quick and easy – for example, if you're reaching the top shelf to get a file or changing a smoke detector battery – don't be complacent. It's never a good idea to do this without considering the proper safety precautions.

So to perform tasks high up, ladders – usually a stepladder, if you're at home – are handy, simple tools to have around the house. However, while using them seems quite simple, their misuse can lead to injuries. A good starting point is to ensure that your ladder has anti-slip feet, is in good condition, and is the correct height for the job. If you will be working around electricity, you should also make sure the ladder is made of nonconductive materials, like wood or fiberglass.

Let's review the safe practices for ladder use. First, place the ladder on a level, nonslip surface. It needs to be stable; even a slight shift of weight can cause you and the ladder to come crashing down. And if you need to place the ladder in front of a door, make sure the door is locked or blocked.
Another safe practice is to keep your weight centered between the rails. It's much safer to get down and move the ladder than it is to lean out to reach something.

Always face the ladder squarely while climbing up or down, to help you balance better. And never allow two people on the ladder at the same time.
Then there's the three-point contact rule. You should always maintain three points of contact – either two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand – while climbing up or down a ladder.

By recognizing potential fall hazards and taking steps to avoid or remove them, as well as following safe practices for using ladders, you can protect yourself and others from injury.

Access the job aid to help you identify potential slip, trip, and fall hazards in your home office environment and review suggestions for addressing them.

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[Topic title: Safe Walking Surfaces.] Injuries are common when people trip or stumble over unexpected objects on the floor or stairs, or in doorways or hallways. In the home office environment, there are all kinds of things that can potentially obstruct paths, ranging from children's toys and shoes to electrical cords and cables, and even your pets. Fortunately, there are some simple safety practices that can prevent most of these kinds of accidents.

Let's review ways to minimize walkway hazards. First, you can eliminate most walkway hazards by practicing good housekeeping. Anything on the floor can be a tripping hazard, so don't leave the floors or doorways cluttered with toys or other small objects you can step on.

Next, cords running across the floor are an accident waiting to happen, so don't leave electrical cords or computer cables in walkways, and watch where you place extension cords and surge protectors.

Because it's easy to slip on wet or slippery surfaces, clean up liquid spills as soon as you become aware of them. Also, inspect walking and working surfaces regularly so that if you notice any signs of damage, like torn carpeting or broken tiles, you can have them repaired.

Many slips and falls happen simply because of carelessness and not paying attention to where you're going. So, avoid distractions, like using your phone, while walking. Don't leave drawers open, because it's very easy to trip over them as you get up to walk. And when carrying a load, like a box or a laundry basket, walk and change direction slowly, and don't stack a load high enough to block your own view.

Finally, safety is extra important when working at night, so ensure your work area is well-lit, including the walkways you might use.

Walkways aren't the only danger though – stairs present a separate injury risk. So let's look at ways to prevent injuries on stairs.

First, do not run up and down the stairs, and make sure to use the railings for extra balance. Ensure that steps are not slippery, worn, or broken. You should also be extra cautious on steep or irregular stairs because their structure increases the likelihood of tripping.

Check to make sure stairways aren't blocked or obstructed – for example, by a sleeping pet. And ensure lighting is adequate – this will make it easier for you to see your surroundings, which will help prevent you from tripping on the stairs and injuring yourself.

Finally, avoid trying to carry too much up or down the stairs – a load shouldn't be big enough to block your vision, and you should be able to catch yourself if you stumble.

On both walkways and stairs, it's especially easy to slip or fall if surfaces are smooth or wet. Floors or stairs that are waxed or polished, or made of tile, marble, or other smooth materials, can be hazardous, particularly if you're wearing slippers or socks. And remember that outdoor stairs and paths are also part of your work environment, so clean up any spills, drips, and leaks, and apply sand or salt to icy spots. Above all, always watch where you're going.

Now, as much as you might try, it's not always possible to prevent falls. But you can help limit your injuries if you know what to do when you feel yourself losing your balance. To get ready for the fall, bend your elbows and knees on your way down, and use your legs and arms to soften the impact, or roll with the fall.

If you're injured in a fall, you should seek medical attention, even if you think it's minor. Fall injuries can cause serious physical problems, so it's important to make sure nothing is torn, sprained, or broken.

Remember, by being constantly aware of your surroundings and guarding against complacency, you can keep yourself and others in your home safe.

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