Slippery surfaces

To ensure safety on slippery surfaces, here's what you should do:

• General Maintenance: Keep all walking-working surfaces clean, orderly, and sanitary [1]. Floors should be maintained in a clean and dry condition to the extent feasible [1].
• Hazard Removal: Regularly remove hazards like spills, snow, and ice from walking-working surfaces [1].
• Slip-Resistant Surfaces: Travelled surfaces in the workplace should be slip-resistant and free of defects like holes or loose tiles [2].
• Wet Conditions: If a floor is normally wet, use a dry false floor or platform, treat the surface with a non-slip material, or ensure employees wear non-slip waterproof footwear 2, 3.
• Outdoor Passageways: Keep outdoor passageways free of ice and snow, using materials like ashes, sand, or salt when necessary [3].
• Equipment Operation: Use caution when operating machinery on boards or steel plates, as they become slippery when wet [4]. Also, be careful when working on inclined areas, providing devices to prevent skidding [4].
• Footwear: Where floors are slippery, ensure employees use non-slip footwear [5].
• Excavator Operation: When operating equipment, travel slowly on grass, leaves, and wet steel or wood plates, as these surfaces can be slippery 9, 12, 14, 15.
• Getting On and Off Machinery: Clean slippery substances from steps and handrails on machinery, and always maintain three points of contact when getting on or off [6].
• Slopes: Avoid traveling on slopes of 30 degrees or more to prevent tipping or rolling over 9, 14, 15. When traveling on slopes, keep the bucket in a position to lower it to the ground quickly in case of emergency 9, 14, 15.
• Material Availability: Have an ample supply of non-skid materials like coarse sand or crushed rock available for use on slippery surfaces [7].

By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the risk of slips and falls in the workplace.