Slip and fall is one of the leading causes of injury in the workplace. Preventing such injuries is a key goal for every safe and healthy work environment. Every workplace is comprised of different areas of expertise and each plays a part in keeping a secured work environment. Broadly speaking, slip and fall accidents can be prevented by:

Informing and instructing the workers about slip and fall hazards.
Encouraging workers to immediately report slip and fall hazards.
Identifying and assessing the risk of job-specific slip and fall hazards.
Establishing controls to eliminate or reduce workers’ exposure to slip and fall hazards.
Ensuring that the control measures are working.

Although, the above preventive measures are applicable for all, each area has some specific role to take on:

Identifying slip, trip and fall hazards.
Implementing occupational health and safety policies.
Developing and maintaining programs to prevent workplace injuries.

Developing and Maintaining Programs to Prevent Workplace Injuries

The following are some tips to prevent slip and fall accidents under various sections.

Engineering controls

Slip-resistant flooring and slip-resistant mats.
Slope of surface (ramps, handrails).
Surface free of obstructions/holes.
Suitable drainage.
Ample lighting (minimize glare and contrast).
Minimize environmental influences (blocking wind, preventing wet surfaces from icing, etc.).
Guardrails for raised floors, mezzanines and balconies.
Sound footing for ladders and work platforms.

Administrative controls

Provide wet floor signage.
Train workers to prevent slips, trips and falls.
Establish safe work practices.
Communicate a procedure for reporting hazards.
Ensure prompt maintenance.
Design jobs to minimize tasks requiring excessive pushing/pulling, line-of-sight obstruction and over-reaching.
Ensure shovels, mops and buckets are readily available.
Correct poor work practices.
Conduct joint health and safety committee monthly inspections.
Review slips, trips and same-level fall incidents.

Safe work practices

Clean up spills promptly.
Remove debris, snow and ice.
Routinely clean floors with appropriate solutions.
Use two hands to climb\descend ladders.
Maintain three-point contact on ladders.
Clean castors on wheeled carts.
Remove clutter from walking surfaces.
Clean grease build-up from slip resistant mats.

Personal Protective Equipment

Select appropriate footwear based on a risk assessment of the job task.
Wear proper-fitting footwear that may include slip-resistant soles.
Properly select, use and maintain fall protection equipment.

All workers have the right to work in a safe and healthy environment. A strong workplace health and safety culture requires all workplace parties to adhere to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations. This includes paying constant attention to workplace health and safety issues.

Contact Slip and Fall Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation!

If you have suffered an injury as a result of a slip and fall accident in your workplace, we can use our combination of know-how and years of experience to help you recover the compensation you deserve.