5 Ways to Help Prevent Slips, Trips, & Falls

Each year billions of dollars in liability and workers compensation losses occur  from slip, trip, and fall (STF) accidents with injury or death occurring.  They happen in workplace settings, public facilities, and in the home; and can be from the same level or from heights.   It is always one of the leading types of losses year after year.  What can you do to prevent such an occurrence from happening?

 

Understand the factors that cause STF, and try to prevent them. 

 

Causes include:

• improperly constructed or maintained surfaces
• hazards that are not adequately identified or barricaded
• personnel wearing footwear that is not meant for the surface
• fraud
• improperly trained employees

Other factors contributing to a loss are vision, age, hearing, health, and physical abilities of the population.  Our society is aging, so the chance of this type of loss occurring in the future is likely to increase.

5 ways to help minimize loss potential:

• Regularly inspect all inside and outside walking and working surfaces, and make sure they are properly maintained per industry standard. Codes and standards vary per location and setting; and are addressed by such organizations such as OSHA, ANSI, DOT, NSC, and others. Remember that the more contrast in color, texture, pattern, markings and lighting help identify the surfaces or deviation of the surface height.
• Good housekeeping and visibility are very important.
• If you have control over personnel, encourage or mandate that the proper footwear is worn.
• Analyze the surface itself and either install slip-resistant flooring, or use cleaning agents and coatings that increase the friction factor (less slippery).
• Floor mats that are used must be of the proper type, cleaned on a regular basis, and replaced if worn or curled edges exist.

You have more control over slip, trip, and fall losses than you think; so take action!
  

Links:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/walkingworkingsurfaces/index.html

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/mainrencon/occhealth/slip_trip_fall_prevention.pdf

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/falls.html

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/hazards/slips/slips.html

 

About the Author:
This blog post is authored by guest author Bill Doliber, a Senior Risk Control Representative for Westfield Insurance. Bill is based out of our Richmond, Virginia office and has 28 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry. He has a risk control background in boiler and machinery, large property accounts, restaurant associations, the carpet industry, contracting, and general industry.