Occupational Health and Safety
 

Interpret, advise, and implement requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and University policies pertaining to OH&S.

Establish and maintain records, statistics and other OH&S reporting. Provide and maintain a safe and healthy work environment for all, to protect them from injury or occupational disease through the enforcement of legislative requirements and other policies as may be issued by the University

 Disclaimer

The material on this website is being provided to the Laurentian University community as information only. Reference should always be made to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations to ascertain one's rights and duties under the law. It is the responsibility of all workplace parties to ensure compliance with the OHSA and the regulations and to seek independent legal advice where questions remain. Should youhave any questions about the contents on this website, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Human Resources/Occupational Health and Safety at extension 3061 or 3016.

  Safety Bulletins

  OHS Information Pamphlet

 

Can you recognize these slip, trip and fall hazards?

 

Ø  Poor lighting

Ø  Obstacles and clutter

Ø  Unsuitable footwear

Ø  Changes of floor level and slopes

 

Ø  Spills on floor

Ø  Weather hazards

Ø  Loose cables

Ø  Loose mats and rugs

 

Preventing slips, trips and falls

 

To prevent trips:

Ø  Keep as few objects as possible on walking and working surfaces.

Ø  Eliminate abrupt changes in walking surface height.

Ø  Where possible, replace stairs with ramps between levels. Be aware that when a ramp angle increases to as much as 20 degrees, the friction or slip resistance of the surface must increase approximately threefold in order to prevent slips.

 

To prevent slips:

Ø  Wear appropriate footwear and keep walking surfaces clean. The design and condition of shoes can be a significant contributor to slip-and-fall accidents.

Ø  Using high resistance surfaces as the answer to every slipping problem should be avoided — they can increase the potential for trips.

Ø  Walking surfaces should be suitable for the pushing, pulling and carrying tasks performed on them. They should provide adequate foot grip but allow wheels to roll freely. Rough, deeply textured surfaces may reduce the potential for slips but increase the potential for trips.

 

To prevent falls from elevated surfaces:

Ø  Falls from elevated work surfaces are often preceded by slips and trips. Apply the same prevention methods to elevated surfaces as for slips and trips on level surfaces. Include railings, guardrails, travel restraint, or fall arrest systems where necessary.

 

For more information visit the Ministry of Labour site.

 

Reporting hazards

 

Employees need to identify and report all slip-and-fall hazards so the hazards can quickly be corrected. Due to constant change in the workplace environment, this is an important element of a safe program. Also, employees should take an active role by selecting appropriate footwear, and are strongly encouraged to wear shoes that are compatible with the flooring surfaces in their areas as well as to the weather conditions.

 


Webmaster
Updated: January 2012

John Benoit, BA, CRSP
Manager, Occupational
Health and Safety
(705) 675-1151 ext. 3016
jbenoit@laurentian.ca

Gail Cowper-Benoit, MSc 
Safety and Research  Compliance  Specialist
(705) 675-1151 ext. 3061 gbenoit@laurentian.ca 

Julie Lacroix, BA
Human Resources Officer
(705) 675-1151 ext. 3021
jlacroix@laurentian.ca

Fax
(705) 673-6507
 
 
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