All these folks have one thing in

common

Slips Trips and Falls at Work

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 Slip, Trip, and Fall
Awareness Initiative

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Scary Statistics on Slips, Trips, and Falls from

• The number one reason for a trip to the

emergency room was “Unintentional Fall”
for all ages except the 15–24 age group
– In the 15–24 age group, the number one
reason was “Unintentional Struck by/Against”
– In the 15–24 age group, “Unintentional Fall”
was the number three reason
* Center for Disease Control

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 Langley Statistics
• Approximately a quarter of our O H & S
recordable and First Aid Cases were due to
Slips, Trips, and Falls

• More than 40% of our Lost Time and

Restricted Work Injuries were a result of Slips,
Trips, and Falls

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P bar Y Safety Consultants Alberta Canada
 Safety 101: Types of Falls

• There are two basic types of falls

– Elevated falls
– Same-level falls
– The majority of falls at our company are same-level
falls with a slip or trip being the root cause.
• Elevated falls at our company are primarily due to
improper use of a ladder.
• Injuries from falls result from the sudden stop or
striking an object or working surface

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 Risk Factors
• Common risk factors that increase the
probability of a slip, trip or fall are:
– Slippery or uneven surfaces.
– Obstructions, like hoses or cords, stretched across
aisles.
– Improper use of ladders and stairs.
– Improper shoes.
– Unsafe behavior, such as horseplay or jumping
from high places

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 Slip Theory
• Slips are primarily caused by a slippery surface and
compounded by the type of footwear worn.
• In normal walking, two types of slips occur.
– When the heel of the front foot contacts the walking
surface and slips forward causing the person to fall
backward.
– When the rear foot slips backward.
• The force to move forward is on the sole of the rear foot.
• As the rear heal is lifted and the force moves forward to the front
of the sole, the foot slips back and the person falls forward.

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 Prevention of Slips
• Awareness and action are the two key ways to counteract slip
hazards every day, both on and off the job.
• Slips happen in almost any part of the workplace.
• You should be aware of the possibility of slips, no matter
where you work.
• Some surfaces are much more slippery than others.
– Add water, a spilled substance, grease, oil, or even fresh wax or polish
to a floor or walking surface, and you increase the potential for slips
and falls.

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 Potential Slip Hazards at LaRC
• Wet Spots
– Don't wait for a small spill to dry itself.
– It only takes a second for a serious accident to happen.
• Loose Flooring
– Use caution when walking over loose tiles, bricks, pavement, carpet or
floorboards.
– Check your floors at home and at work.
• Icy Spots
– Spread sand and/or salt on icy walkways during the winter.
– Always walk slowly on any surface.

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 Trip Theory

• Trips occur when the front foot strikes an object and is

suddenly stopped.
– The upper body continues forward
– A fall occurs.
• As little as a 3/8" rise in a walkway can cause a person to
"stub" a toe resulting in a trip and fall.
• The same thing can happen going up a flight of stairs:
– Only a slight difference in the height of steps can cause a person
can trip and fall.

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 Prevention of Trips at Our Company

• Obstructions that create trip hazards

– Blocked aisle-ways
– Materials not properly stored
– Open drawers
– Unsecured hoses or cords across pathways
• Good housekeeping is everyone’s responsibility.
• You are in the best position to notice, report, and correct
conditions that could cause a slip, trip, or fall.

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 Potential Trip hazards at Our
Company.
• Electrical Cords
– Avoid using extension cords, if possible.
– If you must use one, never place it (or any other cord) in a walking area.
• Materials
– Trip hazards are created by materials stored in hallways and aisles
– Store materials in closets and cabinets.
• Untidy Floors
– Any small things can cause big falls
• A pencil
• A piece of paper or fabric
• A machine part
• Drawers
– Keep them closed
– Many trips have been caused by a drawer that was “only going to be open for a
second”.

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 Conclusions
• Remain attentive to surroundings
– If it snowed, there are likely to be icy patches
– If it rained, entrance ways are likely to be wet and slippery
– Watch out for spills
• Clean them up
• Place a cone or other alerting device to ensure that others see the hazard
• Call 4ROME to have someone clean it up
– If you see something that could cause a slip or trip, report it to your
supervisor, to safety and/or the supervisor in the area
• With everyone’s help, we can meet the company goal of “No
flips due to slips or trips.”

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No Slips No Trips No Falls
We just cant Bear it!

P bar Y Safety Consultants Alberta Canada