Slips, Trips, and Falls
Sealant Waterproofing and
Restoration Institute, February 2006
By Kristin VanSoest, Safety Resources, Inc.
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Did you know that slips, trips, and falls are only second
to automobile accidents in causing personal injury? On stairways alone, falls
result in almost two million disabling injuries yearly. There are thousands more
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.
Statistics show that the majority (60 percent) of falls
happen as a result of slips and trips. The remaining 40 percent are falls from
heights.
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 cause may be the flooring or not wearing the proper
shoes. To prevent slips, avoid walking in areas which pose slipping hazards if
at all possible. Always clean up spills immediately, and try preventing the
spills in the first place. If an area is a chronic problem, try to re-route
walking paths. Keep floors in good shape and always follow your company’s safety
shoe policy.
Trips occur when a person’s foot contacts an object and
they are thrown off balance. The main cause of tripping is obviously when
something is in a walkway and it causes someone to trip. Material or objects
stored low on shelving, sticking out into an aisle way, is another precursor to
trips. Poor lighting and uneven walking surfaces will also cause tripping. To
prevent trips, keep objects out of the way of walking, and make sure floors are
in good shape and lighting is adequate.
Falls are usually the result of slips and trips. Falls also
occur without slipping and/or tripping. Falls can occur due to improper use of
ladders and scaffolding. Falls happen when people don’t use proper fall
protection equipment. Falls are the most serious in terms of slips, trips, and
falls. Don’t take shortcuts when climbing, and always use fall protection when
required.
Slips, trips, and falls cause numerous injuries each day.
They are, however, among the easiest hazards to correct. Always inspect your
work area daily for possible hazards and ways to prevent them. Always remember
these eight things: don’t be in a hurry, pay attention to your step, clean up
spills, practice walking safely, use safety shoes, maintain proper lighting,
exercise stair safety, and inspect your ladder. When you remember these simple
things, you tremendously reduce your chances of slips, trips, and falls.