This document discusses slips, trips, and falls (STFs), providing statistics about STF injuries in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton specifically. It notes that in 2015, STFs were the second highest cause of injuries in Nova Scotia, accounting for over 4,300 claims. STFs represented 6% of claims but 31% of time-loss claims in Cape Breton. The most common cause of STFs was traveling on slippery or uneven surfaces. The document reviews hazards, controls, best practices for prevention, and resources available to address STFs in workplaces.

1. 1
Slips, Trips and Falls
Awareness and Prevention
May 2016
Jennifer Clarke-Relationship Manager WCB

2. Rod Stickman-STF Video
Slip Trip and Fall Video
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3. Agenda
• Introductions
• Realities of Slips, Trips &
Falls Injuries
• Slips, Trips & Falls: Hazard ID
& Control
• Tools and Resources
3

4. Did you know?
An unrestrained adult fall from standing
has been shown to produce 12x’s more
force than what is required to produce a
simple skull fracture
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5. Worker’s Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
OUR VISIONOUR VISION
Nova Scotians – safe and secure from workplace
injury
OUR MISSIONOUR MISSION
To set the standard for workplace injury insurance.
We inform and inspire Nova Scotians in the
prevention of workplace injury, but if it occurs, we
support those whose lives it touches by championing
a timely return to safe and healthy work.

6. We:
• are Nova Scotia’s workplace injury insurance
provider
• cover over 18,000 employers and 300,000
workers
• are not-for-profit
• are funded only by employer premiums
• provide protections from lawsuit to employers,
and no-fault protection for workers
• work with partners for a culture of safety

7. Nova Scotia Injury Statistics
An injury occurs every 22 minutes.
In 2015 there were:
• 23,933 registered claims
– 1041 fewer claims than 2014
– 66 claims per day
• 6014 were time-loss claims
– 61 more time loss claims than 2014
– 16 time loss claims per day
• 27 fatalities

8. Work-related injuries have been decreasing!

9. STF injuries in Cape Breton
In 2015 there were:
•260 STF Claims
•474 STF Time Loss Claims
•9.60 was Average Weeks paid
•$3883 was the average costs of an STF
Claim
•2497 was the total number of weeks paid.
•$1.8 Million-Total costs of STF claims
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10. NS STF Injury Statistics
• Slips, trips and falls were the second
highest injury event in 2015, with 4,303
total claims.
• Over 1,532 Nova Scotians were injured
seriously to need medical support and
time to recover.
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11. How do you Stand Up?
• Cape Breton STF injuries represents 6%
of all reported STF claims
• However, Cape Breton STF injuries
represented almost 31% of the STF time
loss claims in Nova Scotia.
• #1 Cause of STF was traveling on
slippery floors, uneven ground -62% of
the total STF injuries.
• Back Injuries were #1
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12. Did you know?
Each Year
368
people miss a full year of work, every year
due to a slip, trip or fall injury
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13. STF by Industry in Cape BretonIndustry Group Total claims Time loss
HEALTH/SOCIAL SERVICES 149 77
GOVERNMENT SERVICES 76 33
ACCOMODATION/FOOD/BEVERAGES 62 23
RETAIL TRADE 58 27
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 42 16
CONSTRUCTION 37 20
COMMUNICATION/UTILITIES 29 18
TRANSPORTATION/STORAGE 26 10
WHOLESALE TRADE 23 11
MANUFACTURING 19 7
BUSINESS SERVICES 13 8
OTHER SERVICES 9 4
REAL ESTATE/INSURANCE AGENTS 8 4
FISHING/TRAPPING 4 1
MINING/QUARRIES/OIL WELLS 2 0
LOGGING/FORESTRY 1 0
AGRICULTURE/RELATED SERVICES 1 1
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14. The Costs of Injury
• For a time-loss, slip/trip/fall injury? $10,411
• Average number of days lost from work? 92
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15. Types of STF Injuries
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16. Did you know?
It doesn’t take much to ‘trip you up’! When
we walk, our toes don’t clear the ground by
much – on average only 14mm (1/2”)
To protect 90% of the population, changes
in elevation for a walking surface should
be <= 6mm (1/4”)
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17. Causes of STFs
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•Ice + Snow
•Water + Liquid
•Getting in/out of vehicle
•Going up/down steps and
stairs

18. Slips Trips & Falls – Group Activity
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Consider, Discuss an Action Plan for:
Hazards
Controls
Next Steps

19. Consider and Discuss STF Hazards:
1. What STF hazards are in your workplace?
2. How are STF hazards identified at your workplace?
3. How are workers, supervisors, managers involved in
hazard identification?
4. How are STF hazards communicated in your
workplace?
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20. Consider and Discuss STF Controls:
1. What STF controls are in place now at your
workplace?
2. What is the STF hazard control process for
your workplace?
3. How are workers, supervisors, managers
involved in STF hazard control?
4. How are STF hazard controls communicated
in your workplace?
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21. Did you know?
• Good traction helps prevent slips!
• A Coefficient of Friction (COF) of 0.4 –
0.5 or more is needed for excellent
traction!
• Examples:
- Leather shoes on a wet smooth surface
(ceramic tile or ice): COF as low as 0.10
- Shoes with a rubber heel on a brushed
concrete surface: COF >= 1.0
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22. STF Action Plan Best Practices
• Hazard identification and control
• Education and training
• Employee engagement
• Communication
• Program evaluation
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23. STF Tools and Resources

24. WCB Nova Scotia - worksafeforlife.ca & wcb.ns.ca
Awareness & Training Videos - WCB and WSS
STF Prevention Tip Sheet STF Tip Sheet
STF Infographic STF Infographic
STF Tool Box Talks
And coming in 2016!
Risk Mapping Tool
STEP Online Risk Identification & Control program
STF Resources & Tools

25. Starting this week, what
new or improved measures
for preventing slips, trips
and falls will be put into
action at your
workplace?
How will workers, supervisors and managers
be supported to do all they can to prevent
slips, trips and falls incidents and injuries?
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Action Plan – Next Steps

26. NS Workplaces
What Other NS Workplaces are Doing to
address STFs in their Workplaces?
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27. Thank You
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