Introduction
It's the most common hazards at the workplace, slip trips and falls which basically lead to workplace injuries. These hazards can easily be controlled by a positive and proactive approach towards managing workplace health and safety. Slip trips and falls usually happen due to loss of individual balance and foot grip. There are several reasons and causes of slip, Trip, and fall hazards which can indirectly increase the probability of workplace incidents and accidents.
Relevant to these types of hazards and risk many near misses have been incurred but unfortunately it's not reported to resolve the workplace issues which turned into the work related incidents. In this toolbox talk we are going to cover several aspects such as major causes, and preventive measures to avoid any incident in the workplace as well as best strategies to reduce the risk.
What Are Slips, Trips, and Falls?
Slips
Usually slips occur when people interact with slippery surfaces while walking on which lead to loss of balance. In this situation, its difficult to maintain adequate balance and people fall into backward and forward positions depending upon the actual situal.
These are the Common causes of slips at the workplace include:
- Wet floors are one of the most common causes of slip.
- Wearing oily and greasy contaminated shoes.
- Not paying sufficient attention while walking.
- Poor housekeeping
- Inadequate workplace safety signages to alert people about slippery surface.
- Running and horseplay.
Trips
This usually happens when a person comes into contact with any object between walkway which causes loose physical balance.Trips can happen at any moment where an any obstruction or changes in walking surface which can lead to fall forward and have serious injuries
These are most Common causes of trips include:
- Improper cable, pipes, ropes, and hoses management.
- Poor housekeeping and spreaded debris and clutter on the floor.
- Uneven surface and damaged floor.
- Using mobile phone while walking
Falls
Basically falls are the result of a slip or trip when a person loses balance and further falls to the ground level. As compared to slip and trip, falls can be more dangerous and serious conditions. The severity of adverse impact will be depends on the height from which height individual fall on the ground level.
The falls can be occur from the various location such as slip on the wet floor, from from elevated platform including ladder, scaffolds, mechanical elevated platforms etc. or working on any working at height (edges and slopes areas).
These could be other causes of fall
- Unavailability of fall protection equipment while working at height.
- Inadequate guardrail system to prevent fall
- Instability of elevated platforms
- Human error or horseplay
- Inadequate competency to perform the task
Preventive Measures to Reduce Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Remove all obstruction and obstacles from the floor such as tools, debris, cable, etc.
- All material must stored adequately without creating any obstruction and blacking walkway.
- Any kind of spills must be cleaned immediately without any delay such as water spills, chemical spills etc.
- All necessary signages must be place to make alert people about the wet floor or any slip and trip hazards
- All responsible personnel must perform the regular inspection to identify the possible places of slip and trip hazards.
- Uneven floor must be marked to increase the visibility with yellow and black lines or using color tape.
- To provide sufficient walkways amongst all walkways, stair areas, to prevent unforeseen hazards.
- Make sure everyone has anti-slip shoes to retain sufficient grip with the floor.
- It's everyone's responsibility to inspect their shoes before they are used.
- Don't rush or run at the workplace, especially pay more attention on the wet and slippery areas.
- If you notice any slip and trip hazards report it immediately to rectify it without any delay, so prevent relevant incidents.
What to Do If You Fall or See Someone Fall?
It's a most common workplace issue and incidents, which are usually ignored by many employees but they don't know how to react during the real life situation to minimise the maximum chances of injury and prevent recurrence of similar incidents. There are several important steps that need to be followed.
If you fall: Assess yourself first
- First of all, the victim should assess himself and remain calm. At the moment fall can cause severe pain and a very important aspect don't get panic.
- Immediately after a fall, take a few minutes to evaluate the present condition or how you feel.
- Pay attention and check, if you have any injury, dizziness, pain, fracture etc. if yes don't try to move or stand.
- If you have an injury, call out for help to get adequate medical facilities and other assistance.
- Immediately inform to the emergency control center, line supervisor, HSE team etc.
- If it's possible and safe to do, move the victim to the comfort zone or safe place to get some enough relaxation.
- Inform to the management to prepare the documented incident report and detailed investigation to identify the root cause and contribution cause to prevent recurrence.
Relevant Question and answer:
1. What should a person do after falling?
Stay calm and evaluate your actual condition before taking any movement. If you have any major injury don’t try to move yourself, wait for assistance and ask someone to help you.
2. How can you prevent slip, trip at the workplace?
Always keep the floor and walkways clean, perform regular housekeeping to remove probable slip and trip hazards.
3. What all people should when they exposed or recognised any slip and trip hazards?
All work related issues must be reported to the concern discipline to be gets fixed as soon as possible, apart from that report it to the workplace HSE team to take necessary actions.
4. What all people do if they found wet and slippery floor?
It should be reported to area supervisor and ask someone to place the warning sign board or barricade the area to prevent any accidental fall.
5. What are the possible adverse potential consequence of slip, trip and fall hazards at the workplace?
It can lead to many physical injuries such as cut, strain, sprain, fracture and serious bruises and many more unaccountable.
