Keep them upright 

Slips, trips, and falls are among the most common causes of accidents in the workplace. They can lead to serious injury, and even death. We delve into these occupational hazards and provide several steps to counter them.

According to statistics from the Health and Safety Executive in the United Kingdom, 37% of all reported injuries and 28% of all deaths in the workplace are as a result of slips, trips, or falls. On average, approximately 50 people die each year from a slip, trip, or fall, while many more are seriously injured.

Greg Boswarva, the owner of Supersafe Systems, says that workplace injuries constitute a high proportion of risk. People in clerical and administrative occupations suffer 14.41% of all reported occupational health and safety (OHS) accidents involving compensation claims.

Slips and trips

Slips occur when there is too little traction or friction between the walking surface and footwear. Common causes include wet or oily surfaces, weather hazards, and loose mats or rugs. Trips happen when a person’s foot strikes or hits an object, causing loss of balance that could also result in a fall. Common causes of tripping include poor lighting, an obstructed view, cluttered floors, wrinkled carpeting, uncovered cables, and uneven walking surfaces.

Boswarva says that if a hazard cannot be removed, it should be controlled. Changing or modifying walking surfaces and stair treads is the next level of preventing slips and trips.

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), workplace injuries caused by slips and trips can be prevented by modifying or changing walking surfaces. Replacing or recoating floors, installing mats or pressure-sensitive abrasive strips, or using abrasive-filled paint-on coatings can further improve safety aspects and reduce risk. Use of metal or synthetic decking is another possible consideration.

Resilient, non-slippery flooring and non-slip stair treads prevent or reduce foot fatigue and contribute to slip prevention measures, but Boswarva emphasises that hi-tech flooring and treads require as much good housekeeping as other flooring.

Falls

Statistics cited by the CCOHS show that 67% of falls result from slips and trips, with about 30% of accidents involving falls from heights. Working at height is defined as any workplace from which a person could fall, causing serious injury or death, if preventative safety measures are not in place.

Good organisation in the workplace is the first and most important aspect of preventing falls from slips and trips. This includes cleaning all spills immediately, marking spills and wet areas, mopping and sweeping debris from floors, and always keeping walkways free of clutter, obstacles, or unsecured mats, rugs, and carpets that do not lie flat. It also includes closing filing cabinets or storage drawers, covering cables that cross walkways, ensuring working areas and walkways are well lit, and replacing used light bulbs and faulty switches.

In workplaces where floors may be wet or oily, or where workers spend significant time outdoors, prevention of fall incidents should focus on selecting proper footwear. However, since there is no footwear with anti-slip properties for every working condition, it is advisable to consult with footwear manufacturers to ensure correct choices for particular applications. Boots and shoes that fit properly can also prevent fatigue and increase comfort, thereby improving employee safety.

Falls from height

Falling from height includes a variety of situations, such as falling from a step ladder or roof, or through an unguarded hole in the ground or floor. Fall protection may also be required when working above an open top tank, bin, hopper, or vat.

Other situations that may require fall protection include the use of forklift platforms, elevated or fixed suspended work platforms, swing staging, aerial devices, suspended equipment, and personnel-carrying equipment such as lifting units raised by cranes or hoists.

OHS laws generally require action when a worker has the potential to fall about three metres, with most regulations requiring the use of specific fall protection measures before, or in addition to, personal protective equipment.

These measures generally include the use of fixed barriers (such as handrails or guardrails), surface opening protection, warning barriers or control zones, and fall restraint, containment, and arrest systems. There may also be specific legal requirements around the use of equipment such as ladders and scaffolding.