Wet or Slippery Surfaces
Slips and trips on walking surfaces are a significant portion of injuries reported by government agencies. The specific types of surfaces involved in these injuries vary considerably, but some of the more frequently reported are:
- parking lots;
- sidewalks (or lack of);
- food preparation areas and shower stalls in residential dorms; and
- floors in general.
Traction can change when subjected to environmental factors.
Traction on outdoor surfaces can drastically change when subjected to environmental factors such as rain or sleet or on indoor surfaces when moisture is tracked in by pedestrian traffic.
Hazard control strategies that can be implemented indoors and outdoors include the following:
- Keep areas, such as floors, parking lots and sidewalks, and all walkways, clean and in good condition.
- If snow or ice is a factor, additional controls can be implemented to either remove the snow where feasible or, in the case of ice, to treat the surface with sand or other environmentally friendly material. If surfaces are sloped, an additional precaution may be to temporarily suspend the use of the area.
- Use adhesive strips or anti-skid paint whenever possible.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-3. What should be used whenever possible to help reduce slips, trips, and falls?
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