Slips, Trips, & Falls

Cogbill Construction Weekly Safety Tuesday, May 18th, 2021

Slips, trips, & falls are a major workplace hazard in any industry. Regardless of title or job responsibility, employees and visitors can become victims to slips, trips & falls hazards. Slips, trips, and falls cause nearly 700 fatalities per year and many more injurious accidents in the workplace according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Slips occur when there is a loss of balance due to lack of traction which can be the result of wet surfaces, spills, greasy spots, or even weather conditions. To help avoid slips, keep the following in mind:

• Clean up & report spills as soon as possible

• Practice good housekeeping so grease does not accumulate

• Put up wet floor signs when waiting for the floor to dry from spills or mopping

• If having to walk on slippery surfaces, take short steps to keep your center of balance under you

Trips can occur whenever your feet hit an object and you are moving with enough momentum to be thrown off balance. This can be caused by objects left in a walk area or by uneven ground. To help avoid trips, keep the following in mind:

• Pay attention to where you are walking

• Keep walk areas well lit

• Practice good housekeeping. Make sure things are put away in appropriate storage areas when done using them

• Put signs wherever uneven walk areas may be

Falls are the number one workplace fatality and they occur when you move too far off your center of balance. To help avoid falls, keep the following in mind:

• Do not jump off platforms

• When working on elevated surfaces, make sure proper safety equipment is used

• Make sure stairs and platforms have stable hand rails and guardrails

• If using a ladder, make sure the locking device works

• Wear slip-resistant shoes

• Pay attention to your surroundings