According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2024, slips, trips, and falls led to 450,540 work injuries and 865 work-related deaths. Sprains, lacerations, strains, fractures, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and back and spinal cord injuries can occur from slips, trips, and falls in the workplace. Twenty to 30 percent of workplace falls result in a moderate or severe injury like deep bruising, broken bones, or concussions, according to OSHA.
Moreover, Prescient National’s internal data indicates that slips, trips, and falls account for more than one-third of workers receiving physical therapy.
Make Prevention a Priority
First, it’s critical to understand the most common hazards behind slip, trip, and fall incidents:
Slip Hazards
- Water, ice, snow, mud, grease, oil, food, or other wet products on smooth floors
- Dust, powders, plastic wrapping, granules, or other dry products that are slippery on smooth floors
- Freshly waxed surfaces
- Highly polished surfaces that remain slick when dry (like concrete, marble, or ceramic)
- Loose or irregular surfaces like gravel or unanchored flooring
- Sloped walking surfaces without slip- or skid-resistance
- Wet or dry leaves, pine needles, or plant debris
- Shoes with inadequate traction
- Soles that are wet, muddy, or greasy
- Poor lighting
Trip Hazards
- Uncovered hoses, cables, wires, or cords across walking surfaces
- Obstacles or clutter on walking surfaces
- Furniture drawers/door left open
- Unmarked steps or ramps
- Damaged or irregular steps
- Rumpled carpets or mats (or curled edges)
- Thresholds, gaps, and other irregularities in walking surfaces
- Speed bumps and curb drops
Fall Hazards
- Weak or damaged ladders
- Ledges without proper railing
- Carrying heavy objects
- Failure to use guardrails on scaffolding
- Unprotected edges
- Unsafely positioned ladders
- Misused fall protection and height access equipment
Take a proactive risk management approach to reduce workplace slip, trip, and fall incidents. Following are several measures to implement to keep your workers safe from injury.
- Practice good housekeeping. Remove clutter to help maintain a slip-free workplace. Check that all floors, work areas, and passageways are free of cracks and breaks, protruding nails, splinters, holes, or loose boards. Make the floor walkable for everyone in the workplace.
- Make sure there is proper lighting in walking areas. Place proper lighting in access and egress points such as halls, ramps, stairs, exits, and sidewalks.
- Install safety signs. Ensure staff is aware of walking in hazardous spaces. For example, safety signs on a construction site use warning lines, control zones, and designated areas to mark which are passable or restricted.
- Clean spills immediately. Proper cleaning ensures that the floor is free from hazardous elements. Consider various dewatering methods and equipment such as a sump pump to keep water from the floor.
- Ensure proper footwear is worn. Non-slip shoes with good traction protect workers from static electricity, falling objects, explosions, exposure to hazardous substances, and other risks. This is apropos for the commercial, industrial, and construction sectors.
- Maintain and improve floor quality. Fall prevention can be increased by evaluating floors regularly and investing in non-slippery flooring alternatives, among other things.
- Use proper ladders for assigned tasks. Ensure the ladder is the correct size and type for the job and is in good working condition before use.
About Prescient National
Workers’ Compensation insurance specialist Prescient National provides risk-management services to organizations to assist in establishing a strong culture of safety. Our consultation services are free to each policyholder and are tailored specifically to the organization’s unique needs.
