| Cover Story aisles, walkways and work areas. • Clutter and obstacles in aisles, walkways and work areas. • An obstructed view. • Changes in elevation or levels. • Uneven, non-uniform, improper, irregular or damaged steps. • Rumpled carpets and mats or carpets/mats with curled edges. • Irregularities in walking surfaces. Falls – Falls occur when a person becomes too far off center of balance. Offi cials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) note that there are two main types of falls: • Fall at same level. A fall to the same walking or working surface, or a fall into or against objects above the same surface • Fall to a lower level. A fall to a level below walking or working surface. A fall can also occur, add SAIF offi cials, when a person unexpectedly steps down to a lower surface. For example, when an individual thinks they’re on the last step of a set of stairs, but has one more step to go before reaching the landing. Or, if a person unexpectedly steps off of a curb. s V A s t COSTLY Two of the most common causes for slips and falls are slippery or uneven walking surfaces, say offi cials with Zurich Insurance Group (www. zurich.com), a multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. Slips, trips and falls account for one of the greatest workers’ compensation and general liability exposures, the insurance group points out. Th e National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) estimates more than 25,000 slip, fall and trip accidents occur every day in the U.S. Th ese accidents are the second leading cause of unintentional workplace fatalities, according to the council. Th e average disabling claims cost of a slip, trip and fall is $22,000, according to SAIF. PREVENTION Yet, say safety offi cials, these types of accidents, and their resulting injuries, are easily preventable. Th is can be done, OSHA (www.osha.gov) offi cials say, by, among other things: It is important not to over wet the surface because a damp mop will allow the oil and dirt to cling to the mop, instead of being spread around by the solution on the fl oor. Photo courtesy of Kafko Shop fl oor maintenance Shop fl oor cleanliness is a necessity for many reasons. A chief one being: it provides a safer working environment. However, keeping fl oors clean is a challenge, say offi cials with Kafko International (www.kafkointl. • Designing workplaces and processes to prevent potential exposures to slip, trip and fall hazards. • Good housekeeping to maintain clear, tidy work areas free of clutter. • Following safe walking practices and routes. • Wearing proper footwear with good traction. com), a full-range packager of automotive, household and specialty chemical products. They note that very few people enjoy cleaning and most tend to put it off as long as they can and then complain about how hard it was to do. To lessen the burden of fl oor cleaning, the company has come up with its Oil Eater’s Clean as You Go procedures to help ensure that shop fl oors stay relatively clean and employees and customers will see a neat and polished facility. The procedures includes these fl oor cleaning do’s and don’ts. Do • Pick up drips and spills immediately to prevent tracking the matter through the shop. • Put the minimum amount of cleaning solution needed in a mop bucket. • Change the cleaning solution after mopping each bay. • Hang mops when not in use. • Empty and clean mop buckets after each use. Don’t • Leave mop buckets fi lled with dirty solution. • Leave a mop in the mop bucket in the dirty solution. • Leave drips and spills for clean up later or the next person. FLOOR MOPPING The procedures also provide these recommended procedures for mopping a shop fl oor. 1. Prep the area to be mopped • Place wet fl oor signs to alert coworkers. • Move any equipment or furniture to a safe area where they will not be in the way and can be easily put back in place. • Use a putty knife to remove any matter like tar or gum that is stuck to the fl oor. 2. Sweep the area. 3. Mop the area. • Use a solution of eight to 10 parts water to one part cleaning solution, such as Oil Eater. • Dip the mop in the solution and wring it out so it is damp. • The biggest problem when cleaning is over wetting the surface, note offi cials. A damp mop will allow the oil and dirt to cling to the mop, versus just spreading in around. • Start in the corner farthest away from where you will fi nish. • Mop in an “S” or fi gure 8 motion, working back from where you started. Re-dip the mop in the solution and wring it out frequently. • Change the solution after mopping each bay. 4. Clean up • Empty and rinse the mop bucket so it will be ready for the next shift. • Rinse the mop completely and hang it up. • Remove the wet fl oor signs. • Put equipment and furniture back in place. When following the Clean As You Go procedures, fl oor mopping should only need to be done once or twice a day, usually at the end of each shift, say the offi cials. The Slip, trip and fall evaluation form – which can be used to identify which areas pose the greatest slip, trip and fall potential – can be found online at VehicleServicePros.com/12258358 Another tool for assessing slip, trip and fall risk factors within a facility is the Contributing Factor Guide. I It is located online at VehicleServicePros.V com/ 12258384 Continued Page 16 10 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ OCTOBER 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com
FleetMaintenance_October_2016
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