Jailhouse Slips, Trips and Falls

In the last issue, I reviewed slip and fall injuries in the jail kitchen. This is a particularly hazardous area that needed separate attention. As a follow up, I thought that it would be appropriate to continue on this theme and present some ideas on preventing slip, trip and fall injuries throughout the remainder of your jail facility.

To put these injuries in their proper context, let me begin by defining the problem and presenting a few statistics. The most frequent cause of accidental injury sustained by correctional personnel is not from inmate altercations, but rather from slips, trips and falls. Although most of these injuries are minor, they do account for a considerable time away from work. In fact, according to industry and governmental statistics, the median number of days lost to this type of injury is 7, and about 22 percent of all reported slip, trip and fall injuries resulted in the loss of more than 31 days from work. More significantly, these lost-time injuries are a major factor in worker compensation claims and they significantly disrupt personnel deployment as well as normal routines and support activities. We are sometimes remiss in not considering these types of incidents as potential security problems.

Many larger correctional systems have recognized the significance of slip, trip and fall injuries and address it as part of their overall loss prevention program. If your facility has not yet done so, and there is the occasional bothersome injury claim, here some preventive measures suggested by the National Safety Council that should be considered.

Investigate Incidents

Obviously, a thorough investigation of actual injuries sustained from a slip, trip or fall is essential in preventing a reoccurrence. However, minor incidents that often go unreported may provide valuable clues to troublesome areas and/or practices that require attention. For this reason, even the slightest slip, trip or fall should be reported. When reviewing these reports, pay particular attention to the following:

· Doorways and other transitional areas

· Ramps

· Cluttered hallways, dormitories, shops, day rooms, etc.

· Areas with heavy traffic

· Lighting

· Uneven surfaces

· Any area that is prone to wetness or spills

· Housekeeping routines and practices

Implement Environmental Controls

The best and most cost-effective controls are slip-resistant floors, mats, shoes and attention to housekeeping practices.

Floors:

Flooring materials should be chosen according to its use, particularly traffic. In correctional settings, different areas may require different types of flooring materials. For instance: heavily trafficked corridors; toilets and kitchens; clinics and shops; intake and living areas are quite different from law library and administrative offices; gymnasiums and multipurpose rooms. Each has a different flooring need. However, a general rule of thumb recommends that any flooring material used in a correctional setting a minimal static coefficient (slip resistance) of at least 0.5. Architects, Safety Consultants and Building and Construction inspectors can help recommend appropriate types of flooring.

Some of the questions that should be asked in making the selection of appropriate materials and construction include:

· What are the sanitary requirements?

· What kinds of sills are likely?

· Is noise a concern?

· Will the area have heavy traffic?

· What equipment must the floor hold?

· How will the floor be cleaned?

· Are aesthetic effects a concern?

If an existing floor presents a problem, a variety of non-skid coatings may be applied yielding excellent results without compromising aesthetic concerns. Carpets should only be considered in very low-traffic areas or where noise is a concern. While carpeting provides good traction, once it is worn or comes loose, it can become a significant trip hazard.

Mats:

Mats provide added protection in wet and heavily trafficked areas; particularly at building entryways where water and dirt tend to accumulate. Mats should be chosen with the following qualities:

· Easy to clean

· Rubber or other slip-resistant surfaces

· Recessed or beveled edges

· Thickness of one-half or three-eighths inches

· Perforated surfaces to drain spills, snow and mud

Blankets and towels are not walk-off mats and should not be used as such; they do not meet the above criteria. In fact, more slip and fall injuries in jails have resulted from using blankets as walk-off mats at building entryways and shower rooms. It is actually safer to leave the floor bare at entryways and periodically remove accumulated soil and moisture through good housekeeping practices.

Footwear:

Footwear for both correctional personnel and inmates should be chosen with slip-resistant soles that have a high coefficient of friction and are both comfortable and durable. In some instances, such as inmates working in kitchens and housekeeping, athletic shoes are not the best choice for slip and fall protection.

Housekeeping:

Several simple rules of housekeeping can keep an area safe from slips and falls:

· Try to schedule floor cleaning during periods of low activity.

· Always post warning signs in areas freshly mopped.

· A shinny floor is not always a safe one. Chose floor finishes that are slip-resistant.

· Frequently mop entryways and shower areas to remove water and dirt. Clean up spills immediately.

Other Safety Features:

There is an easy way to gauge trip hazards in and around your facility; it’s called the Four-Penny rule. Trips can occur if an unexpected change in grade is over ¼ inch … about the size of four stacked pennies. In conducting my inspections, I carry with me four pennies cemented together with a few dabs of super glue. I use the stack of pennies to measure any change in grade both in the indoor and outdoor environment. Any change in grade that is greater than the four stacked pennies is then marked with a commercially available bright-colored retro-reflective paint until it can be repaired.

Changing architectural floor levels can be made safer by doing the following:

· Insure that all stairs have handrails that extend the entire length.

· Put yellow strips on both the first and last steps.

· Clearly define changes in levels with warning tape.

· Light all changes in levels, including staircases with at least 10 foot-candles of illumination.

Training:

Finally, proper training will help to identify any hazards that could cause slips, trips or falls. Use the following guidelines to incorporate a slip, trip and fall awareness in your safety-training program:

· If you drop it, pick it up.

· If you spill it, wipe it up.

· Go where you’re looking and look where you’re going.

· Check that all aisles, egress routes and corridors are clear.

· Be sure that floors are clean and dry.

· Make cleaning implement readily accessible to staff for spot cleaning.