Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention Guide for Fence Contractors

The foundation of any sound fall prevention program is adhering to housekeeping standards. Housekeeping standards help to establish a safety culture by focusing on maintaining a clean and orderly jobsite, protecting the welfare of all employees and visitors.

Use these housekeeping standards to make fall prevention part of your daily operations:

• Keep walkways and work paths clear of tools, wire, scrap and packaging.
• Assign daily cleanup responsibility by crew or shift.
• Remove debris from yards and staging zones.
• Clean spills immediately and mark wet areas.

Fall prevention isn’t just a best practice; it’s required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. To maintain compliance and prevent workplace injuries, ensure your business provides working conditions free of known dangers and prioritizes regularly cleaning the jobsite to promote ongoing safety.

One of the simplest ways for employees or visitors to incur injuries on the job is by tripping over obvious hazards on the ground like clutter, uneven pavement or wet areas. Leverage these strategies to maintain clear walking surfaces:

• Repair uneven concrete and broken pavement.
• Stabilize temporary walk paths where crews travel repeatedly.
• Use traction mats in wet or wash areas.
• Secure mats and edge transitions to prevent curling.

Regular inspection of both indoor and outdoor walking paths can help to prevent fall-related injuries and ensure daily operations remain uninterrupted.

Visibility is a critical component of fall prevention, ensuring both visitors and employees can properly see where they are walking to avoid obstacles. Ensure proper visibility by implementing the following best practices:

• Maintain adequate lighting in shops and yards.
• Add portable lighting in shaded work zones.
• Replace failed bulbs promptly.
• Check stair and trailer entry lighting.

Proper lighting during the day and night will help your business enhance hazard identification and minimize the risk of accidents.

Stairs are one of the most common areas where slips, trips and falls can take place. Improper stair design, slippery surfaces or improper lighting can all lead to a fall down the stairs, which can be fatal. Maintain safe stairwells by leveraging the following strategies:

• Install and maintain secure handrails.
• Keep steps dry and clear.
• Do not allow material storage on stairs or landings.

Consider using non-skid mats on stairs for additional slip resistance.

Adequate footwear provides employees the necessary stability and traction to maintain balance and prevent falls. Use these tips to ensure workers wear proper fitting footwear with high-traction and ankle support:

• Require slip-resistant footwear for field and yard crews.
• Reinforce standards in safety meetings.
• Replace worn tread footwear quickly.

Consider conducting regular inspections to inspect footwear for wear and tear and to promptly replace as needed.

Equipment can quickly become a safety hazard when left in walkways and not properly stored. To mitigate this risk:

• Store tools immediately after use.
• Route cords and hoses away from walking paths.
• Use cord covers where crossings are unavoidable.

Use clearly designated and labeled storage areas to organize and secure equipment when not in use.

To build a successful safety culture at your organization, you must provide the foundational knowledge and best practices so employees can promote the mutual safety of the entire workforce and any visitors. Regular training sessions, in addition to inspections to affirm training practices are implemented, can help to decrease falls and safety-related incidents.

Leverage these strategies to build a safety culture:

• Include slip and fall prevention in safety orientation.
• Review seasonal hazards such as rain and frost.
• Encourage near-miss reporting.
• Add slip and trip hazards to routine safety inspections.
• Document and correct hazards quickly.

Consider incentivizing your employees for contributing to a strong safety culture. For example, public recognition and team-based rewards like lunches can help strengthen safety program participation and lead to enhanced outcomes.