Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention for your Business

Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention for your Business - Banner

Interior Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention Inspection Checklist

CLICK HERE TO REFER TO THE CHECKLIST

 

Slips, trips, and falls are occupational hazards found in nearly every type of residential or commercial setting. Preventing them involves a combination of management approaches, hazard identification, and correction and personal responsibility.

Slip Trip and Fall - Introduction

Interior Slips, Trips and Falls: Claim Frequency and Severity 

In the United States, more than 8.7 million people are hurt from slip, trip, and fall incidents every year. Most common are joint injuries, typically to the wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee, and back. 

Slips
Slips result from inadequate friction or traction between footwear and floor surfaces. 

Contributing reasons for slips:

  • Wet or dry contamination on the floor
  • Loose, unsecured rugs and mats
  • Walking surfaces with different degrees of traction
Slip Trip and Fall - Slips Contributing Reasons for Slips

Trips
A trip occurs when the foot strikes an object, resulting in a loss of balance

Common causes for trips:

  • Cords or clutter in walkways
  • Obstructed views
  • Uneven stairs
Slip Trip and Fall - Trips

Falls
Falls occur while walking from low or high elevations. The severity of injuries from falls is increased by the height and the surface. 67% of slips and trips end in falls.

Fall incidents usually involve the following:

  • Slippery, cluttered, or unstable walking or working surfaces
  • Unprotected edges
  • Floor holes and wall openings
  • Unsafely positioned ladders
  • Misused fall protection

Checklist: 10 Risk Factors

The potential for incidents often depends on the convergence of 10 risk factors. For accurate assessment of the probability of slips, trips, and falls, each factor has to be evaluated on a scale from "high potential" to "very low potential."

  1. Surface Composition
    Surface composition is the type of floor and the friction or slip resistance of the surface provides. Floor surfaces should have sufficient "grip" to prevent slipping, especially in areas that may become wet or contaminated. The greater the thickness or viscosity of the containments, the greater the slip resistance of the flooring needed to protect against slips.
    Slip-resistant surfaces:
    - Natural stone
    - Asphalt
    - Brick
    - Broom-finished concrete
    - Carpet
    Slip Trip and Fall - Slip Resistant
    Slippery when wet:
    - Vinyl-composition tile
    - Ceramic tile
    - Terrazzo
    - Marble
    - Granite
    Slip Trip and Fall - Slippery
  2. Foreign Substance Potential
    Foreign substances may appear on the walking surface and impact slip resistance. The greater the potential for foreign substance introduction, the greater the potential for slip and fall incidents.
    Slip Trip and Fall - 2 - Foreign Substance Potential
    Items to consider:
    - Ice
    - Water
    - Liquids
    - Powders
    - Grease
  3. Surface Conditions
    Observable surface deterioration should receive extra attention. Surfaces to inspect include painted surfaces, loose carpeting, loose or broken tiles, surface holes or pits and unusual wear.
  4. Surface Changes
    Surface changes from one type of material to another as someone walks through the area are common causes of slips and falls. 
    Critical cases:
    - Carpet-to-tile

 

 

 

- Brick-to-epoxy floor
- Wet-to-dry

Slip Trip and Fall - 4 - Surface Changes

 

5 |  Level Changes
     Level changes include floor walking surface height changes of three or fewer steps. Items to consider include non-uniform           steps or stairs, high curbing and poor visibility, and illumination.

6 | Obstructions
     Obstructions protrude into the walking path, contributing to the likelihood of trips and falls.
     Things to avoid:
         - Extension cords
         - Hoses
         - Product storage
         - Parts of equipment

Slip Trip and Fall - 6 - Obstructions

7 | Visibility
Poor lighting and distractions can impair a person noticing slip or trip hazards in their path. Adequate lighting without glare or shadowing are required to maximize visibility of potential slip or trip hazards. Other distractions should be minimized to the extent possible. Items to consider include glare, shadows, bright lights, and color contrasts.

8 | Human Factors
Different individuals have different physical capabilities.
Special consideration should be given to:
- Individual physical attributes such as vision, balance, and agility
- The activity being carried out and how it is organized
- Who will be walking through the area, including the public

9 | Stairs (including elevators and escalators)
Stairs are a major source of falls that result in serious injury. Most falls on stairs occur while descending.

Slip Trip and Fall - 8 - Stairs

Considerations:
- Step geometry must be uniform to prevent users from misstepping and falling.
- Handrails should be uniform around stair corners and not present a situation in which the user has to search for the next section of railing. 
- Handrails need to be secure and easily grasped.
- Stair treads should be slip-resistant, well maintained, and free of defects.
- Escalators and elevators, if any, need to be considered.
- Elevator thresholds should be level with the elevator carriage at each level and be slip-resistant.

Slip Trip and Fall - 9b - Considerations

10 | Unusual Features
Unusual features include anything out of the ordinary that might distract a person walking through the area. Examples include alarms/buzzers, strobe/flashing lights, information boards, displays, large windows, and decorative lighting.

 

Housekeeping Practices

Excellent housekeeping practices are key to minimizing slip, trip, and fall injuries.

Slip Trip and Fall - Housekeeping Practices

They include:

  • Clear access ways
  • Prompt spill cleanup
  • Signage and/or barricades for wet or slippery areas
  • Training and supervision

Training

All staff should be trained to identify slip, trip, and fall hazards and mitigate them or report them as appropriate.

Crucial Talking Points:

  • Proper cleaning procedures
  • Use of the handrails on stairs
  • Safety considerations when using ladders
  • Appropriate slip-resistant footwear for the job
  • Spill response expectations and general housekeeping expectations
Slip Trip and Fall - Crucial Talking Points

Consultation

Before changes are made to facilities and processes, or equipment is purchased, consult the workers in the work area about the changes. General awareness training can help employees recognize the impact of slip and fall injuries on individuals and businesses.

Possible Topics for Discussions:

  • Safely stepping over obstacles
  • Determining appropriate walking speed
  • Preventing falls by improving health

The content herein is for informational purposes only without warranty of any kind, whether express, statutory, or implied, and the information contained herein does not constitute legal advice. You should contact an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Greater New York Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates assume no liability whatsoever for any errors or omissions in any content contained herein.