subject: Make Slipping And Tripping A Thing Of The Past [print this page] Flooring, people, obstacles, environment or footwear can all be reasons for slipping or tripping. Slips and trips are the most common cause of major injuries at work and can occur practically anywhere. 95% of major slips lead to broken bones and they can also be the original cause for a range of other types of accident such as a tumble from height.
Any work activity must take place on a suited floor for the kind of activity undertaken. People should be able to walk on the floor without concern of a slip despite any contamination that may be on it, even if a floor can't be kept dry. So it needs to be sufficiently rough. The floor must be cleaned correctly to see to it that that it does not become slippery and keeps its slip resistance properties. Once they become contaminated a floor will often become slippery. Anything that ends up on a floor can be called contamination e.g. cardboard, product wrapping, dust, rainwater, oil, grease etc. the list is unending. It can be due to untoward weather conditions or a by-product of a work procedure. Follow this rule in order to prevent slips on anti-slip flooring that could be contaminated - the thicker the contamination the rougher a floor needs to be.
The floor should be fitted correctly to ensure that anti slip coatings are acceptably applied and to make certain that there are no trip hazards. The floor must be maintained in good order to see to it that that there are no trip hazards e.g. holes, uneven surfaces, curled up carpet edges. Ramps, raised platforms and other changes of level should be avoided, if they can't they should be highlighted.
People have been falling and getting hurt or even killed on stairs since ancient times, as they are so inherently hazardous. Stairs should have high visibility, non-slip edges, a suitable handrail and steps of equal height and width.
Slips and trips can be affected by how people act and behave in their work environments. A positive opinion toward health and safety, a See it, sort it!' mentality can lessen the chance of slip and trips accidents e.g. clearing up a spill without waiting for someone else to do it. What footgear is worn can also make a difference e.g. wearing high heels at work will make you more vulnerable to a slip. Things that stop you from seeing or thinking about where you are going, can also increase the risk of an accident e.g. rushing about, carrying large objects, becoming distracted whilst walking e.g. using a mobile phone.
Lighting (natural or otherwise), loud or unfamiliar noises, the weather, humidity, condensation etc. can all make you slip or trip. Eg too much light on a shiny floor can cause glare and stop people from seeing hazards on the floor and stairs but too little light will also prevent people from seeing hazards on the floor and stairs. You might be distracted by loud or unfamiliar noises. If rainwater gets onto a smooth surface outside or inside of a building, it may cause a slip hazard. Cold weather can cause frost and ice to form, which may produce slippy surfaces. Condensation may make a smooth floor slippery.
Local Councils have a duty of care to provide safe, slip free surfaces. Main areas should be clean, obstacle free and have anti slip flooring.
