Health, Safety and Environment - International Labour Organization

Manual 4:HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT FACT SHEETSFact Sheet 10: Falls BackgroundHazardsFalls may occur from heights or on the same level. Falls from the same leveloccur from slippery surfaces, uneven ground, poor lighting, tripping overobjects or being pushed by a moving object.One of the most common causes of accidents is falling from ladders orworking platforms. In the case of bins, silos, barns and other storagestructures, falls from heights most often occur from and in storagestructures. The causes are unguarded roofs, floor openings, stairways, loftsand shafts, and climbing ladders or standing on raised work areas such asan unprotected platform. Falls from height may also result from climbingon or off the transportation unit (for example, wagons, carts and tractors). InformationHealth andsafety lawThere is a wide diversity of approaches in national legislation. Check thesummaries provided by your union educator of applicable laws in yourcountry.AgreementsYour union may have made agreements with your employer regarding workin confined spaces. Check if there are any applicable agreements.ILO Convention No. 184 on Safety and Health in AgricultureSee Articles 6 and 7 in Manual 6 for the employer’s duties158 Health, Safety and EnvironmentA Series of Trade Union EducationManuals for Agricultural Workers