The slip, trip, and fall injuries can be prevented; yet, they are among the most common liability claims.
Fifty percent of facility claims can be traced to flooring and maintenance of those floors. If either is improper, slips, trips, and falls occur. Fifteen percent of all accidental fatalities involve slips, trips and falls. Automobile accidents are the number one cause of accidental deaths, slips and falls number two. Become aware.
Walk around your facility, inside and out.
Outside:
1. Check the parking lot and drive areas for potholes, cracks, uneven pavement, concrete heaving or subsidence (sinking) on walkways.2. Check around curb inlets (stormwater throats). Often the tops do not match the surrounding sidewalks for elevation.3. Observe the green space, grass and flower beds, for burrows that animals may have dug. Groundhogs can create a terrible trap causing broken legs and sprained ankles with deep holes. Moles and voles too.4. Look for areas washed by stormwater or sprinkler flow.5. Are all stairs visible, well lighted and handrails in place?6. Anywhere people may walk, check for even or level conditions and well-marked stairs.
Inside:
1. Check transition areas between rooms to assure no dramatic steps down or up.2. Are all hallways and stairs free and clear of debris or storage items?3. Check all rugs to assure edges are secured to the floor to avoid trip hazards.4. Generally, are all footpaths free of trip hazards and clutter? Ample room to walk?5. Kitchens and shop areas: are all spills cleaned up immediately?6. Are all stairs visible and handrails in place?
Generally look for any materials which could be slipped upon or tripped over inappropriately stored or left in a walkway of any sort.
Repair or replace any defective conditions with proper materials or standard operating procedures.
Slip and fall prevention requires diligence. Daily inspections and awareness should be built into every supervisor’s day to quickly remediate any dangerous condition.
In shops, wash bays, kitchens, or any wet floor surface area, workers and guests should wear non-skid shoes.
Awareness leads to prevention.
