Preventing Falls

Each year falls consistently account for a number of fatalities in industry.

How do you, as workers, take responsibility to prevent falls at the work site?  If the practices listed below are followed on a consistent basis, they can help prevent falls.

1. As an employee are you actively committed to providing a safe jobsite?
2. Do you inspect the rig (location) daily or more often for housekeeping problems that may cause a fall from elevation or a same-level fall?
3. Is the entire site surveyed regularly for changing conditions that may create a tripping or slipping hazard?
4. Are spills cleaned up immediately?
5. Are walkways kept clear, and excess materials kept orderly allowing free walkway space?
6. Are stored materials such as sacks of mud chemicals, stable and secure from tipping or falling over?
7. Are materials such as drilling mud chemicals, sand or other granular materials swept up and removed immediately from walking surfaces?
8. Are workers’ tools and toolboxes properly located and stored?
9. Are temporary electrical cables, air or water hoses routed such that they do not create additional tripping hazards?
10. Are all stray tools gathered and stored properly at the end of each shift?
11. Is a safe clearance for material handling equipment provided through aisles and doorways?
12. Are openings to outside walls adequately barricaded and labeled before any work begins in the area?
13. Are employees prohibited from sitting on ledges of openings to outside decks?
14. Are all floor openings identified with appropriate signage and covered or barricaded prior to carrying on work in the area?
15. When working at a height do you utilize a full body harness and100% tie off?
16. When it’s necessary to remove hand rails, are the openings the through handrails adequately barricaded and labeled before any wok begins in the area?
17. Are the floor (deck) openings guarded by a standard railing?
18. Do you know how to report unsafe conditions on the rig (well site)?
19. Do you know whom to contact in such cases?
20. Do you document reported items or unsafe conditions?
21. Do you and your co-workers wear appropriate safety footwear for the floor conditions?
22. Does your footwear fit properly to prevent slips that could be caused by excessive wear or damage?
23. Is your footwear damaged or defective? If so it should be replaced or repaired.
24. Is the level of lighting adequate for safe movement and for the work being performed?
25. Are temporary hand railings checked to ensure they are properly secured and meet applicable standards?
26. Are floors and walkways evaluated for evenness?
27. Are changes in elevation, such as joints, labeled to prevent falls?
28. Are covers or guardrails in place and marked around open hatches, pits, tanks or other surface interruptions?
29. Are aisles, ramps, docks and other vehicle ways, kept clear of tripping hazards?
30. Are ladder-ways and other wall openings guarded by a railing?
31. Is there a scaffolding competent person available for scaffolding setup, inspection, use and removal?
32. Are scrap or trash bins monitored for spillover that could create a slip/fall hazard?
33. Is there adequate lighting for safe employee movement and for work being performed?
34. Is there a dike around waste oil storage areas to prevent any spilled or leaked oil from getting onto the deck or walkways?
35. Are adequate cleanup supplies and absorbents available for spills?
36. Do you and your co-workers know where to find first aid supplies on the site?
37. Do you and your co-workers know where the emergency numbers are posted and whom to report incidents to?