Landscape Business

Safety Tips

By Adrienne Jones

As a safety professional , one of the most disturbing things I ’ ve seen is a video of an employee who was looking down at their phone while walking , slipped off a curb and ended up being hit by a vehicle . Thankfully , that employee fully recovered and returned to work , but this incident was a stark reminder of the ongoing pattern of distracted walking that needs attention . Slip , trip , and fall occurrences have much to do with the human elements of distraction , complacency and stress , just to name a few .

Distractions are anything that draws a person ’ s attention away from the task at hand ; and in the modern world , our devices top the list . These devices can make us vulnerable to hazards around us , especially when engaged in activities such as texting , talking on the phone or listening to music through headphones .

It can be easy to forget how much our senses have to do with slips , trips and fall occurrences . When it comes to walking , auditory cues can often be more important than visual cues ; something as simple as hearing our footsteps can significantly contribute to our balance and walking safety .

Other human factors such as distractions , stress , fatigue and rushing play important roles in the slip , trip and fall incidents our industries see so often . The role of inattention is huge .

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ( NIOSH ), 18 % of the 1,176,340 nonfatal work injuries resulting in days away from work in 2020 were related to slips , trips and falls .

Our organization promotes proper footwear , addresses physical hazards , highlights weather conditions , and so on , but it ’ s important to look at the human element — the emotions and mental state we ’ re in that also contribute to distracted walking .

A study on non-fatal occupation falls conducted by Yeoh , Lockhart , and Wu looked at the relationship between employees ’ length of service and the rate of accidents .

The results showed employees with more than a year of employment “ experienced more than 70 % of fall accidents ,” while employees with less than a year of employment experienced “ considerably less (~ 28.8 %).”

The takeaway ? Human factors such as complacency can be combated by implementing annual training programs that reinforce fall-safety awareness .

Going back to the start

When looking beyond physical hazards , the mental state of employees is in direct correlation with slip , trip and fall incidents . In just seconds , a person can become hyper-focused on a task — whether they ’ re looking up for conductors and trees , searching for meters , or trying to locate an address .

It ’ s easy to mentally “ check out ” during the task of walking . ACRT Operations Manager Jerry Staton reflects on “ highway hypnosis ” in a previous T & D World article — but this phenomenon isn ’ t limited to just driving . It can take place just as often when we ’ re walking . Most people have been walking from such a young age that it ’ s a natural task we ’ ve become complacent with and take for granted .

Think about it ; most individuals in the green industry walk more than they drive every single day .

When a person ’ s attention is focused elsewhere , they are less likely to participate in active safe walking — an awareness focusing on where you are walking , every step you take . Taking the time to scan your surroundings for hazards , focusing on the immediate terrain , and being conscious of potential risks in your path can prevent costly incidents . These daily tips for safe walking practices can improve our overall awareness and create safe , consistent habits : Walk at appropriate speeds . Take your time and practice mindfulness . Test footing before committing weight . Use your arms to keep you balanced . Eliminate distractions such as mobile devices .

32 OPE Business March 2023 www . OPEBusiness . com