Safety Alert : Think Again about Trip Hazards

In recent weeks there have been 3 Lost Time Incidents (LTIs)

which have been the result of trip hazards :

A) Operator climbs down from vehicle cab and steps onto refuelling
hose, fracturing his ankle

B) Operator climbs down refuelling steps onto the refuelling hose,

causing a bad sprain of his ankle

C) Contractor preparing a work site walks backwards, tripping over

a raised kerb and badly spraining his ankle

Safety Alert July 2003

 Safety Alert : Think Again about Trip Hazards

In these cases the people involved were either :

• Simply not aware of the presence of the hazard

(e.g. incident A above)

or,

• Should have been aware of it but lacked sufficient understanding

of the potential hazards in the workplace
(e.g. incidents B and C)

Safety Alert July 2003

 Safety Alert : Think Again about Trip Hazards
How can we avoid this type of incident in the future?

• Do not create hazards as you work!

In incident A a second operator pulled out the refuelling hose of

his comrade’s vehicle (to save time) thereby creating a hazard
which the driver did not know about

In incident B the operator created a hazard by not giving sufficient

thought to how the refuelling hose was lying on the ground behind
him

• Take the time to “see” workplace hazards

In incident C the contractor did not have sufficient awareness of

hazards in his immediate work area

Safety Alert July 2003

 Safety Alert : Think Again about Trip Hazards
What should you do now ?

At your next HSE meeting choose one to two tasks and for
each task discuss :

• How can I inadvertently create hazards as I do this task(s)?

• What other hazards might I expect to face as I’m doing this
task, created by the actions of others?

Then agree :

• What needs to be changed about the way the task is done to

avoid creating hazards? Is a local work instruction needed to
formalise the change?
• Are there any actions we can take to avoid or at least manage
better the hazards created by others?

Safety Alert July 2003

 Safety Alert : Think Again about Trip Hazards

Remember and practice the “Stop-Think-Do” approach to work :

STOP : Pause and think before you act, even for a familiar task
STOP If you are uncertain, always seek advice

THINK : consider the workplace environment –

What are the hazards in the workplace?
How could your work create hazards for you or others
working close by?

DO : Proceed with a high level of awareness of both the task in

hand and workplace conditions on the day.

Safety Alert July 2003