Slips, Trips, and Falls
Worker exposure to wet floors or spills and clutter can lead to slips/trips/falls and other possible injuries.
Best practices to prevent slips, trips, and falls.
In order to keep workers safe, employers should refer to:
- OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D - Walking-Working Surfaces,
- Subpart E - Means of Egress, and
- Subpart J - General environmental controls
General best practices to prevent slips, trips, and falls include:
- Keep floors clean and dry. In addition to being a slip hazard, continually wet surfaces promote the growth of mold, fungi, and bacteria that can cause infections.
- Provide warning (caution) signs for wet floor areas.
- Where wet processes are used, maintain drainage and provide false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places where practicable, or provide appropriate waterproof foot-gear.
- The Walking/Working Surfaces Standard requires that all employers keep all places of employment clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.
- Keep aisles and passageways clear and in good repair, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard.
- Provide floor plugs for equipment, so that power cords need not run across pathways.
- Keep exits free from obstruction. Access to exits must remain clear of obstructions at all times.
- Ensure spills are reported and cleaned up immediately.
- Eliminate cluttered or obstructed work areas.
- Use prudent housekeeping procedures such as using caution signs, cleaning only one side of a passageway at a time, and provide good lighting for all halls and stairwells to help reduce accidents, especially during the night hours.
- Instruct workers to use the handrail on stairs, to avoid undue speed, and to maintain an unobstructed view of the stairs ahead of them even if that means requesting help to manage a bulky load.
- Eliminate uneven floor surfaces.
- Promote safe work practices, even in cramped working spaces.
- Avoid awkward positions, and use equipment that makes lifting easier.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
9-9. Provide False floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places where practicable to help prevent _____.
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