Slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of injuries and represent a significant portion of claims costs each year. The most common causes of slips, trips and falls are same-level falls, falls on different levels like stairs, and liquid or material spills on walking surfaces. To prevent these incidents, proper housekeeping like cleaning spills immediately, ensuring clear walkways, and wearing appropriate footwear are essential. Workers should also move carefully, watch their surroundings, and report any hazards.

1. Slip, Trip and FallSlip, Trip and Fall
PreventionPrevention
Fort Lee Safety Office
765-3130

2. What’s the problem ?What’s the problem ?
 It is theIt is the #1#1 leading causeleading cause of injuryof injury
 STF’s represent about a fourth of allSTF’s represent about a fourth of all
claimsclaims
 Each fiscal years there are thousandsEach fiscal years there are thousands
of casesof cases
 TotalTotal incurred costsincurred costs of these claims areof these claims are
in the tens of thousands.in the tens of thousands.

3. Slip, Trip and Fall Claims BreakdownSlip, Trip and Fall Claims Breakdown
 Same LevelSame Level (50%)(50%)
 Different LevelDifferent Level (14%)(14%)
 StairsStairs (14%)(14%)
 Liquid & SpillsLiquid & Spills ( 9%)( 9%)
 Slip / No FallSlip / No Fall ( 5%)( 5%)
 Ice / SnowIce / Snow ( 5%)( 5%)
 Floor OpeningsFloor Openings ( 2%)( 2%)
 Ladder / ScaffoldLadder / Scaffold ( 1%)( 1%)

4. SlipsSlips
SlipSlip
-loss of balance caused by too little friction-loss of balance caused by too little friction
between a person’s foot and a walking surface.between a person’s foot and a walking surface.
Common Causes:Common Causes:
• Wet or oily surfaces,Wet or oily surfaces,
• Occasional spills,Occasional spills,
• Weather hazards,Weather hazards,
• Loose, unanchored rugs or mats, andLoose, unanchored rugs or mats, and
• Flooring or other walking surfaces that are worn.Flooring or other walking surfaces that are worn.

5. TripsTrips
TripTrip
- hit an object, lose your balance and- hit an object, lose your balance and
fallfall
Common Causes:Common Causes:
• Obstructed viewObstructed view
• Poor lightingPoor lighting
• Clutter in your wayClutter in your way
• Wrinkled carpetingWrinkled carpeting
• Uncovered cablesUncovered cables
• Drawers not being closedDrawers not being closed
• Uneven (steps, thresholds) walking surfacesUneven (steps, thresholds) walking surfaces

6. FallsFalls
Fall:Fall:
- when you lose your balance & drop to the floor- when you lose your balance & drop to the floor
There are three types of falls:There are three types of falls:
 Falls on the same levelFalls on the same level
• Slip or trip immediately precedes fall to floor orSlip or trip immediately precedes fall to floor or
walkwaywalkway
 Falls to lower levelFalls to lower level
• Falls are from platforms, docks, ladders, steps or stairsFalls are from platforms, docks, ladders, steps or stairs
 Jumps to lower levelJumps to lower level
• An intentional jump from one level to anotherAn intentional jump from one level to another
• Employee jumps off ladder, dock, equipmentEmployee jumps off ladder, dock, equipment

7. PreventionPrevention
Good housekeepingGood housekeeping
Quality of walking surfacesQuality of walking surfaces
(flooring)(flooring)
Selection of proper footwearSelection of proper footwear
Appropriate pace of workAppropriate pace of work

8. HousekeepingHousekeeping
 Clean up spills immediatelyClean up spills immediately
 Mark spills and wet areasMark spills and wet areas
 Mop or sweep debris from floorMop or sweep debris from floor
 Remove obstacles from walkwaysRemove obstacles from walkways
 Keep walkways free of clutterKeep walkways free of clutter
 Secure mats, rugs and carpetsSecure mats, rugs and carpets

9. HousekeepingHousekeeping
• Close file cabinet or storage drawersClose file cabinet or storage drawers
• Cover cables that cross walkwaysCover cables that cross walkways
• Keep working areas and walkwaysKeep working areas and walkways
well litwell lit
• Replace burned out bulbsReplace burned out bulbs

10. FlooringFlooring
Change or modify walking surfacesChange or modify walking surfaces
• Recoat or replace floorsRecoat or replace floors
• Install matsInstall mats
• Pressure-sensitive abrasive stripsPressure-sensitive abrasive strips
• Abrasive-filled paint-on coatingAbrasive-filled paint-on coating
• Metal or synthetic deckingMetal or synthetic decking

11. FootwearFootwear
Conditions:Conditions:
• Floors - oily or wetFloors - oily or wet
• Considerable timeConsiderable time
outdoorsoutdoors
AdvantagesAdvantages
• Properly fittedProperly fitted
• Increased comfortIncreased comfort
• Prevent fatiguePrevent fatigue
• Improve safetyImprove safety

12. What canWhat can YOUYOU do to avoid slipping at work?do to avoid slipping at work?
 Take your timeTake your time
 Pay attentionPay attention
 Adjust stride to the taskAdjust stride to the task
 Walk with feet pointed slightlyWalk with feet pointed slightly
outwardoutward
 Make wide turns at corners.Make wide turns at corners.

13. What canWhat can YOUYOU do to avoid tripping atdo to avoid tripping at
work?work?
 Sufficient lightingSufficient lighting
 Portable lightingPortable lighting
 Watch where you are walkingWatch where you are walking
 Carrying or pushing objectsCarrying or pushing objects
• obstructions, spills or objects lying on theobstructions, spills or objects lying on the
floorfloor

14. Inclement WeatherInclement Weather
• Slow down to react to a change inSlow down to react to a change in
tractiontraction
• Wearing slip-resistant shoes orWearing slip-resistant shoes or
overshoesovershoes
 carry your work shoescarry your work shoes
• SunglassesSunglasses
 outdoors in ice and snowoutdoors in ice and snow
• Treat walking surfacesTreat walking surfaces
• Wet shoes on dry floors – Caution !Wet shoes on dry floors – Caution !

15. Report Hazards ImmediatelyReport Hazards Immediately
If you cannot fix the hazard yourself then:If you cannot fix the hazard yourself then:
• Immediately report the hazardImmediately report the hazard
• Alert or warn others in the areaAlert or warn others in the area
 Mark the area or stay there until help arrivesMark the area or stay there until help arrives
• Hazards not fixed in a timely mannerHazards not fixed in a timely manner
 Contact the your Unit Safety OfficerContact the your Unit Safety Officer

16. Can you identify what is wrongCan you identify what is wrong
in the following pictures?in the following pictures?

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