A recent IMCA Safety Flash focuses on an incident in which, a person was making their way down a vessel staircase, wearing coveralls and safety boots with company approved shoe covers on and slipped down.
The incident
While descending the stairs, the person slipped down approximately four steps on the staircase. The person had a firm grip hand on the handrail at the time of the incident and thereby, further slippage was prevented. The strain of preventing a worse fall caused muscular pain on the left side of the person’s torso and their left shoulder.
What went wrong
- The grip on the injured person’s cloth shoe covers had worn away over time;
- The person had not removed the cloth shoe covers upon exiting the accommodation area.
Lessons learned
- Wearing shoe covers on stairs presents a potential slip hazard, and they should be removed upon exiting areas (such as the accommodation) where they are required;
- Inspect shoe covers before use to check the grip – and replace as necessary.
