Preventing Slips, Tripsand Falls

Massachusetts Retail Merchants Workers’ Compensation Group, Inc.

Safety Awareness For Everyone from Cove Risk Services

Slips, Trips and Falls

Objectives

• Learn the causes of slips, trips and falls

• Learn how to prevent slips, trips and falls– Identify hazards– Implement controls– Incident reporting

Slip Sliding Away…

Slip: Loss of balance caused by too little friction between the walking surface and a person’s shoe

Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Flooring 50%

Footwear 24%

Fraud 10%

Hazard Identification 9%

Training 7%

Source: National Floor Safety Institute

Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Flooring 50%

Source: National Floor Safety Institute

• What type of floor?

• What’s on the floor?

• How do we maintain the floor?

What Type of Floor?

Tile

What Type of Floor?

Concrete

What Type of Floor?

Wood

Flooring Transitions

Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Flooring 50%

Source: National Floor Safety Institute

• What type of floor?

• What’s on the floor?

• How do we maintain the floor?

Lack of Friction

Grease

Food

Water

Housekeeping

Source: Maynard, W.S., The Aging Workforce: Implications For Managing Slips,Trips and Falls, The Eastern Ergonomics Conference and Exposition, NYC, May 30, 2007.

Mopping

To Reduce Slips:

• Keep floors free from water or grease• Clean up spills immediately• Put up warning signs around spills or wet floors• Consider installing non-slip tiling or other non-

slip floor products• Use rubber mats where the floors are

constantly wet

Safe Shoes – Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s:• Slip-resistant soles and a

good tread• Tightly tied laces

Don’ts:• No leather or smooth soles

• No open-toes

• No platform or high heels

• No porous fabric such as canvas

Safe Shoes – Do’s and Don’ts

Source: Maynard, W.S., The Aging Workforce: Implications For Managing Slips,Trips and Falls, The Eastern Ergonomics Conference and Exposition, NYC, May 30, 2007.

Trips

Trip: Hit an object, lose your balance and fall

NOTE: As little as 3/8” rise in a walkway can cause someone to

“stub” his/her toe and fall.

NOTE: As little as 3/8” rise in a walkway can cause someone to

“stub” his/her toe and fall.

Indoor Trip Hazards

• Common causes:– Cluttered areas

– Rugs, mats, carpeting

– Exposed cables, cords

Outdoor Trip Hazards

• Cracks or holes in parking lots

• Watch for parking stops and speed bumps in parking lots

• Unmarked curb or ramp edges

Falls

Fall: When you lose your balance and drop to the floor (caused by slip or a trip)

• Falls on the same level– Slip or trip immediately precedes fall to floor or

walkway

• Falls to lower level– Falls are from ladders,

steps or stairs

Same Level Falls

• Mats sufficient running length and width– Snow: 10 – 12 walking steps

– Rain: 8 – 10 walking steps

– Dry: 6 – 8 walking steps

• Designed and placed so asnot to create additional fall hazard

Rule of thumb: Should not be able to see wet footprints after stepping

off mat.

Rule of thumb: Should not be able to see wet footprints after stepping

off mat.

Same Level Falls

• Use mirrors for blind corners

• Check windows on swinging doors so you can see if someone is coming in or out

Use Ladders – Not Chairs or Tables

• Safety step ladders • Fiberglass step ladders

Stairs

• Watch step edges and transition areas (changes in elevations).

• Utilize lighting and hand rails when on stairs.

• Watch the last step - don’t confuse the bottom step with the floor.

Incident Reporting

If you are injured, what should you do?• Report to your Supervisor or Manager

• Complete an Incident Report (IR) immediately

– Explain fully: who, what, where, when, how, why

– Give Incident Report to Supervisor or Manager

• Understand procedures for workers’ compensation medical practices at your workplace

Summary

• Purchase slip-resistant shoes • Be aware of flooring transitions• Take time to clean up spills

immediately• Be aware of trip hazards both

inside and outside of the restaurant

• Utilize only approved ladders and stepstools

• Be careful when using stairs

Preventing Slips, Tripsand Falls

Massachusetts Retail Merchants Workers’ Compensation Group, Inc.

Safety Awareness For Everyone from Cove Risk Services