When you slip or trip, you lose your balance and footing.
Your center of gravity is displaced, and a fall is inevitable.
You may be thrown off balance by slipping on a wet floor or
tripping over an object in your way. Once you lose your
footing and support, there is no place to go but down.
As children we all laughed when a cartoon character
slipped on a banana peel or when the Keystone Cops
slammed each other with doors and ladders and tripped
over one another. In fact, slips, trips, and falls are the essence of such "slap-stick humor." Yet slips, trips, and falls in
the workplace are not funny and can be painful and highly
costly; they are a significant source of injuries, and even
deaths, on the job.
Why do slips, trips, and falls happen?
There are two basic types of slips and trips falls that
occur - elevated falls and same-level falls. Although
same-level falls occur more frequently, elevated falls are
more severe.
Both types of slips and trips falls can be caused by either
an unsafe action of an individual (hurrying, overreaching,
not using railings, not wearing proper footwear, using
equipment improperly, etc.) or an unsafe condition (poor
housekeeping, poor lighting, uneven surfaces, unguarded
opening, etc.).
Slips happen where there is too little friction or traction
between the footwear and the walking surface.
Trips happen when your foot collides (strikes, hits) an
object causing you to lose balance.
Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls
Both slips and trips result from some kind of unintended
or unexpected change in the contact between the feet and
the ground or walking surface. This shows that good
housekeeping, quality of walking surfaces, use of proper
footwear, and appropriate pace of walking are critical for
preventing slip, trip, and fall injuries.
Don't Take Shortcuts
Trips and falls often occur while people are in a hurry,
because they take shortcuts and don't pay attention to what
they are doing. We all have tried to jump across an obstacle
instead of walking "the long way around" to our destination.
These types of acts are unsafe. Learn to slow down and
walk sure-footedly by avoiding potentially hazardous
shortcuts.
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Pay Attention to Your Step
Avoid injuries by paying attention to where you are walking. Learning to recognize hazards and avoiding potential
hazards saves time, money, and injury. As mentioned previously, resist the temptation to take shortcuts because
shortcuts are usually comprised of objects or routes not designed for foot traffic and often consist of unstable, shaky,
or slippery surfaces.
Be Aware of Your Environment
It is important you be aware of the environment in which
you are walking to ensure that risks are minimized. In winter, for example, watch out for icy walkways. If walking on
surfaces with ice, take smaller and more frequent steps in
order to maximize contact between the feet and walking
surface; in wet and snowy weather, the simple act of cleaning off your shoes and boots before entering the building is
an effective deterrent to slipping and falling. Walk safely,
deliberately, and avoiding sharp changes in direction.
Handrails on stairs and ramps are there to protect you from
falls, so take advantage of them when they are available.
Wear Appropriate Footware
Wear appropriate and approved footwear when and
where required.
Maintain a Clean and Safe Working Environment
Maintain a clean and safe working environment at all
times.
Understanding Behaviors That Contribute to
Falls
Being distracted while you work and not watching where
you are going are two of the main behaviors that lead to
slips, trips, and falls. When walking, focus on the task at
hand. When you lose concentration, you make yourself
vulnerable to unsafe conditions.
Falls aren't funny. They cause serious injuries and
death. Watch your step to prevent falls. Walk right!
Remember: Accidents Don't Just Happen - Only
You Can Make Safety Happen!
— Safety Performance Management,
Employee Resource Management, 1-5-06
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