You can slip when you lose your footing, you can trip when you catch your foot on or in something, and you fall when you come down suddenly. Spills, ice, snow, rain, loose mats, rugs, and stepladders are some of the common causes of slips, trips, and falls. In addition, poor lighting and clutter can cause injuries such as sprains, strains, bruises, bumps, fractures, scratches, and cuts.
Here are a few tips to avoid slips, trips, and falls:
- If you see something you might slip or trip on, tell your supervisor or a member of Safety right away.
- Clean up spills and anything slippery. Check with your supervisor or Safety about which cleaning products to use. Don’t use cleaners that could make the floor more slippery.
- Clear walkways, stairs, and lobbies of anything that might be a tripping hazard, such as cords, wires, empty boxes, and clutter.
- Make sure that floor mats lie flat rather than being wrinkled or bunched.
- Use handrails when you walk up and down steps.
- Before using a ladder or stepladder, make sure it fully opens.
- Check that ladder extensions are fully locked and that the ladder legs are stable on a flat, non-slippery surface.
- Clean any slippery material off the rungs, steps, or feet of a ladder before you use it.
- Don’t go over the load limit noted on the ladder.
Source: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
