Did you know that slips, trips, and falls are second only to automobile accidents in causing personal injury? Over half of the fall injuries happen on the same level. In other words, people fall to the surface on which they are walking or working. The rest of the falls are from one elevation to another. These falls may include falls from ladders, roofs, catwalks, uneven surfaces, or stairs. There are thousands of minor injuries caused by slips, trips, and falls each year. Most alarming of all is the fact that industrial falls cause over 1000 deaths each year. Slips and trips result from some kind of unintended or unexpected change in the contact between the feet and the walking or working surface. What can be done to prevent slips, trips and falls? Most of the suggestions in this article can be used on the job and at home.
SLIPS occur when there is too little friction between a person’s feet and the walking surface. Many factors can cause a slip. Ice, oil, water, cleaning fluids, and other slippery substances are probably the most obvious causes. However, the flooring may be inappropriate-perhaps it is a slick material-or the person who slips may not be wearing proper shoes. To prevent slips, avoid walking in areas that pose slipping hazards if at all possible. Always promptly clean up spills of slippery substances. Better yet, prevent the spills in the first place. If an area is a chronic problem, re-route foot traffic in order to avoid it. If flooring is a problem, contact your supervisor to consider replacement or coating with a non-slip surfacing material. Be sure you have and use footwear that is appropriate for the surface you walk on and the work you do.
TRIPS occur when a person’s foot contacts an object and they are thrown off balance. The main cause of tripping is obvious–anytime something is in a walkway it could cause someone to trip. Another culprit is an object that projects into the walkway–perhaps material stored low on a shelf. Prevention of trips is simple but does require diligence. Keep objects that could cause someone to trip out of the way. Report uneven flooring and check the lighting.
FALLS can be caused by a number of things. Slips and trips frequently result in a fall. Falls also occur for other reasons. Improper use of ladders and scaffolding can result in a fall-usually a very serious one. Falls also happen when people climb objects without using fall protection equipment. Don’t risk serious injury by taking shortcuts. If you are working on a ladder, scaffold, or other elevated platform, make sure you know the requirements for using them safely. Always use fall protection equipment when it is required.
Proper lighting is another area to check to help avoid a slip or trip. Turn on the light before walking into a room. Don’t walk in the dark. Replace burned out bulbs or tubes. When moving from areas of different light intensity, give your eyes a chance to adjust before proceeding.
In walkways or aisles, dispose of waste properly and replace equipment in an orderly manner. Close cabinet doors and drawers.
Always use handrails on stairs and take just one step at a time. Report any broken or loose steps on stairs or ladders.
Slips, trips, and falls cause numerous injuries every day. But they are among the easiest hazards to correct. Take the time to look around your worksite for these hazards and work to prevent them. Take care not to cause any slip, trip, or fall hazards as you go about your daily activities. Don’t let a slip, trip, or fall keep you from enjoying all that life has to offer.
