Slips, Trips, and Falls
Slips, trips, and falls pose a significant risk of workplace injuries. These incidents can occur anywhere, and various hazards may contribute to the loss of traction, tripping over objects, or falling from elevated positions. Consider the information below and assess whether there are proactive measures you can implement to safeguard yourself from slip, trip, or fall accidents.
RECOGNIZE THE HAZARDS
ENVIRONMENT
Slip hazards can include wet or dry contaminants on the floor such as water, dirt, or oil. Trip hazards can include open file drawers, boxes on a stairwell, or trash left on the floor. Falling from an elevated position can include into an open service pit, from a loading dock, tractor steps, or off a ladder.
EQUIPMENT
Slips, trips, and falls can occur when using equipment improperly. Slipping on a mechanic’s roller seat in the shop, tripping over an extension cord, or falling off a ladder with a damaged rung are common hazards.
PERSONAL BEHAVIORS
Talking or texting on a device, talking to a co-worker, or eating and drinking while walking all divert your attention away from where you step and potential hazards in your path. Ignoring hazard signs and wearing improper footwear are other risky behaviors.
KNOW THE DEFENSE
AVOID DISTRACTED WALKING
Keep your attention focused on the task at hand and put away mobile devices, food, and drinks until you arrive at your destination. If a co-worker needs to talk, stop and have the conversation or table it until later.
SLOW DOWN
Hurrying is a common factor in slips, trips, and falls. Slow down and take shorter steps to ensure your feet keep their grip on the walking surface. Be cautious when working from elevated positions. Always maintain three points of contact (two hands/one foot or two feet/one hand) with a ladder, tractor steps, etc.
WEAR PROPER FOOTWEAR
The soles of your footwear act in very similar ways to the tires on your vehicle. Footwear with slippery soles can cause you to slip like bald tires can cause hydroplaning. To prevent slips and falls, wear footwear with slip-resistant soles that are appropriate to the task and environment in which you will be working.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Be mindful of trip and fall hazards like an open service pit or loading dock, equipment lying around, or hazards in walkways. Likewise, watch out for contaminants on the floor, like a spilled drink in the break room, water on the restroom floor, or a freshly waxed floor.
OBEY HAZARD WARNING SIGNS
Do not ignore hazard warning signs. These signs are used to protect you and others from harm. Make a wise decision and find a path around the hazard area as instructed.
A LESSON LEARNED
A truck driver arrived at the shipper’s terminal and backed up to the loading dock, a routine he had performed countless times before.
This particular customer was one of his favorites because a few warehouse workers were in his fantasy football league. Eager to share his team’s weekend performance, the driver, despite company policy against leaving the truck, decided to go inside. The shipper had never explicitly addressed this practice.
Inside, the driver engaged with a friend, a forklift operator loading pallets onto his trailer. After a brief conversation, the driver’s friend was called away. As they bid farewell, the driver, turning to leave, accidentally tripped over a short stack of boxes. The fall resulted in a broken wrist. The employer reported the incident to OSHA, and following the investigation, the driver’s employment was terminated due to non-compliance with company policy.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE