Slips, Trips and Falls Safety Tips

When your job duties require you to work in areas that have potentially hazardous conditions such as slippery floors or the potential for spills, you are at great risk for injury. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2017 slips, trips and falls accounted for 26 percent of the nonfatal work injuries resulting in days away from work. 

And according to OSHA, slips, trips and falls caused 15 percent of all accidental deaths in the United States in 2018. Slips, trips and falls don’t discriminate, they are some of the leading causes of fatalities and injury in every industry. 

This is why the experts at ORR Safety want to provide you with slips, trips and falls safety tips to help prevent injuries and ensure your team is following safe work practices.   

First, protective footwear is essential. In the same fashion that you select tires for your vehicle based on your local weather conditions, protective footwear must be selected with your work conditions in mind. Your local ORR Safety account manager can work with you to identify the hazards in your workplace and help you select the proper footwear for the application.

Download the ORR Boot and Shoe Catalog to see all the brands and styles available. 

Along with selecting and wearing the correct footwear for the application, other steps can be taken to prevent slips, trips and falls:

Slips Safety Tips 

Slips are often caused by wet surfaces, spills or weather hazards like ice or snow. Slips are more likely to occur when you’re wearing the wrong kind of shoes, hurrying or not paying attention to what’s in front of you or the condition of the floor.  

You can help avoid slips by following these safety precautions:  

• Wear shoes with appropriate non-slip soles. Shoe should be replaced when soles (particularly the heels) are worn. 
• Walk carefully, always being alert of floor or ground conditions. 
• On slippery surfaces, you should take slow, short steps with your toes pointed out at a 45-degree angle and the weight of your body over the front half of your feet, not the heels. Your posture should be like that of a penguin, nature’s experts at walking on ice. 

• Keep your workplace clean. Don’t let grease accumulate on surfaces, especially floors, stairs or other walking surfaces. Be cautious while walking on recently mopped or waxed floors. Also be aware of rugs or loose carpeting. 
• Clean up or report spills right away. Even small spills can be dangerous. 
  

Trips Safety Tips 

Trips occur when your foot catches on something and causes you to stumble or fall.  

To prevent trip hazards:  

• Always look in the direction you are walking. Avoid distractions such as looking at cell phones and carrying large objects that obstruct your view.  
• Keep work areas and walkways well lit, especially at night.  

• Keep the workplace neat and clean. Store materials and supplies in their appropriate place, out of walkways and off the floor.  
• Arrange furniture and office equipment so that it doesn’t obstruct walkways or pedestrian traffic.   
• Keep loose cables, wires or cords out of walkways. If not possible, consider carpet cord covers or plastic cable covers for hard surfaces.  
• Properly maintain walking areas. Alert a supervisor or maintenance staff regarding potential hazards. 
• Identify then fix or mark obstructions and uneven surfaces. 
  

Falls Safety Tips 

To avoid falls, consider the following:  

• Wear shoes with appropriate non-slip soles. Shoe must be replaced when soles (particularly the heels) are worn. 

• Keep passageways and aisles well-lit and clear of clutter.  
• Identify then mark and warn others of edges and floor openings. 
• Always use the stairs. Don’t jump off landings or loading docks.  
• Maintain two points of contact while going up or down stairs. 
• Repair or replace stairs or handrails that are loose or broken.  

• Make slow, wide turns around corners to avoid running into objects or other people. 

Let the Experts Conduct a Slips, Trips and Falls Safety Audit at Your Workplace TodayTogether we will identify hazards and create solutions to reduce the risk for injury in your facility.