Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls in the Workplace

Slips, trips and falls have the potential to be a major cause of injury for your employees and visitors to your premises. There is a common misconception that slip and fall injuries “just happen” and that there is little that can be done to prevent them.

The potential for slips, trips and falls can be widespread, but it is important to understand where, on your premises, the greatest potential for danger lies.

Some hazards associated with slip, trip and fall injuries include:

• Slippery surfaces, such as a gloss-finished tile, polished stone, etc.
• Holes or broken surfaces.
• Uneven walking surfaces.
• Poorly marked and/or poorly lit walkway transitions.
• Wet surfaces caused by spills or poor drainage.
• Slippery conditions due to mud, ice or water during inclement weather.

Creating a Safe Passage

Routine inspection and maintenance should be a regular part of your safety program to help prevent falls for both your visitors and employees.

• Design your entrances and walkways to accommodate the expected volume of foot traffic through your business.
• Conduct periodic walkthrough surveys of your premises to help ensure your property is kept in safe condition.
• Ensure all walkways are properly lit.
• Maintain all flooring surfaces at all times.
• Use slip-resistant floor treatments, especially in areas proven to be wet.
• Apply floor treatments to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Use “wet floor” signs to warn of known hazards.
• Schedule maintenance of floor surfaces during times of low traffic.
• Have spill cleanup supplies readily available.
• Ensure that entry areas are properly maintained and any mats are secured.
• Promptly investigate incidents, and document findings if an accident and/or injury occurs.

Complete Reporting Can Aid in Prevention

In the event of an incident, be sure that it is documented and reported. This information can help prevent future incidents, and may be essential if a claim against the company is filed. A standard, printed incident report is helpful in ensuring that all details are recorded.

• Document all details of the incident.
• Collect the names of the victims and witnesses.
• Record victims and witnesses accounts.
• Take photographs of the incident site – slips, trips and falls do not "just happen."

At Travelers, we understand the risks and provide strategies that our customers can implement to help prevent slips, trips and falls on their premises.