Take action now to prevent slips, trips, and falls for fruit and vegetable growers

They may seem harmless, but slips, trips and falls are some of the most common causes of workplace injuries and deaths. They are also one of the leading injuries that cause workers to miss time at work. 

Falls from heights have the most severe outcome. “Reroofing a greenhouse or picking fruits high up in a tree canopy are common examples of this,” says Sara Lambie, Health and Safety Consultant with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS). In these situations, Working at Heights training may be required to ensure everyone is aware of the related hazards and understands how to properly use fall protection equipment.

However, falls from shorter distances (e.g. slipping off a step ladder) can still result in a serious injury. And falls on the same level (e.g. slips and trips) account for 2/3 of all fall injuries. Slips and trips are usually due to things such as water on the ground, loose cords or hoses, and uneven or slippery surfaces.

Jay Remsick, another Health and Safety Consultant with WSPS points out that fall weather can increase these types of slip and trip hazards. “The onset of fall weather can be particularly tricky,” he says. “One day it's dry but the next day a sudden temperature drop has turned the walking surface into a sheet of ice.”

“Proper footwear with good tread is a valuable form of personal protective equipment (PPE). Worn out tread offers no traction,” says Jay. "Check them each season and replace them if need be.”

Sara adds that it is also important to ensure footwear fits properly. “Wearing boots that are too big or small can contribute to slips and trips,” she says.

Use Stop-Think-Act to prevent falls

Using the Stop-Think-Act approach to workplace safety is one way to protect yourself. These three simple words help remind you to take a minute to stop and think before acting on a task or job.

• When using a hose, stop. Evaluate the situation. Ask yourself what could go wrong?
• Next, think. Are you pulling the hose across a walkway or high-traffic area? Could someone trip on that hose? Is there a closer hose you could use? Are other workers aware that a hose is being used in the work area?
• Then act. Use the hose closest to your work area and try to avoid having it stretch across walkways. Tell other workers that you have the hose out, so they are aware. Place caution floor signage over the hose to draw attention to it. When you are finished with it, be sure to put it back neatly where it belongs to prevent another worker from tripping over it.

Taking these three steps can be the difference between walking up the stairs after a good day at work or rolling into the emergency room with an injury. 

Five tips to prevent slips, trips, and falls

1. Practice good housekeeping. Keep pathways clear of hoses, tools, products, etc. to prevent workers from tripping over items left on the ground. When it comes to using hoses, place them strategically away from high-traffic areas and consider using a brightly coloured hose so it’s easier to spot.

2. Use the right equipment for the task. For example, orchard ladders offer more stability when picking fruit than regular ladders do. However, orchard ladders must be scaled to the size of the fruit tree. Falls often occur when a ladder is too short, and the worker is reaching above their head to harvest those last fruits at the top. Depending on height and location, it may make more sense to use a horticultural mobile elevated work platform rather than a ladder. Choose the most appropriate equipment to do the job safely and ensure workers are properly trained in its use.

3. Ensure ladder inspections are part of your safe work procedures.
Train your workers on how to inspect ladders and make sure inspections are part of their day-to-day procedures. Ladders must be in good working order, clean, and dry before use. If water or mud gets on the rungs of a ladder, it becomes a serious slip hazard.

4. Maintain three-point contact. Whether you are climbing a ladder or climbing into the cab of a tractor, maintain three-point contact. To do so, you must keep two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand on the ladder/equipment at all times. Yes—this means that you can not carry things in your hands while climbing or working on a ladder.

Do not jump down or skip steps either. Instead, keep your body between the side rails and do not lean over to one side or the other. Twisting and turning while harvesting greatly increases the chance of falling off.

5. Be aware of uneven ground and transitions in greenhouse flooring. 
Avoid having rough or uneven transitions from one floor to another or from inside a barn or greenhouse to the ground outside. It’s easy to trip over an uneven transition in flooring when you are not expecting it, especially when carrying something that may limit your view of the ground.

How WSPS can help

Resources

• Working with ladders and at heights in agriculture (article and video) - Ladders are common tools used on the farm. But if not used safely, they can cause injuries or even death. Get tips to stay safe when using ladders and working at heights.
• Agricultural Safety Handout -  Preventing Falls
• Agricultural Safety Handout - Proper Use of Ladders
• Greenhouse Safety

 The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.