Falls are one of the most common injuries that occur in schools. Most injuries associated with falls in schools are from falling while standing on an unstable object, slipping, or tripping.
The following are a few examples of injuries which occurred in schools throughout the region last year:
- A teacher was standing on a desk putting up decorations on the classroom door, when she fell off of the desk and broke her foot.
- A food service employee getting a milk crate out of the walk-in refrigerator, tripped on another milk crate and fell to the ground injuring her right knee and shoulder.
- A custodian was taking down a lunch bench in preparation for breakfast. As the bench was coming down it hit his knee causing the custodian to fall. The custodian sustained a sprained knee..
- A bus driver slipped after stepping out of a bus in the fuel bay and onto a patch of ice causing him to fall and hit the back of his head on the pavement.
The following are a few ideas you can use to prevent and minimize some of the common injuries listed above:
- Always think of your personal safety and asses the potential risk and protective measures for what you are planning to do.
- Wear shoes or boots with good traction.
- Never stand on office or classroom furniture. Use a step stool or ladder.
- For ice conditions use deicer or a similar product that your school uses whenever possible. Be sure to report areas of concern as soon as possible to the appropriate person at your school.
- Keep aisle-ways free of obstructions (electrical cords, trash cans, stools, boxes, etc.)
- Clean up or report spills as soon as possible.
