Slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of general workplace accidents and injuries as well as being the most common cause of workers’ compensation claims. Ranging from minor bruises to severe traumas such as head injuries or even death, it is absolutely essential that employers reduce these potential hazards as much as possible.
Protect your employees and business by following these safety tips to prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace.
1. Enforce Good Housekeeping Practices
Poor housekeeping habits may lead to more employee injuries, so create positive habits from the get-go. Make sure every employee makes cleaning and organising a part of their daily performance and you’ll soon find fewer employees having accidents.
2. Reduce Wet or Slippery Surfaces and Clean Up Spills Immediately
Walking surfaces make up most workplace injuries that are reported, so make sure that all of your surfaces are well-maintained. Regularly check your surfaces as the weather can cause problems both outside and inside the property and apply safety measures where needed.
3. Keep Walking Surfaces Free of Clutter
It makes sense that an unobstructed path reduces the risk of falls and injuries so aim to keep your walkways clear. Keep aisles, corridors, entranceways and stairwells clear in particular, and always run your cables behind walls or under carpets so that they are safely hidden.
4. Always Maintain Proper Lighting
Poor lighting increases the risk of accidents occurring, so make sure that the workplace is sufficiently illuminated at all times. More often than not, slips or falls are caused by a step or two hidden in the shadows of the light so consider installing spotlights, motion-sensor lights or illuminated steps.
5. Use Clear, Well-placed Signage
We’ve all seen signs in public places and there’s a reason for it: they are highly effective in highlighting potential problem areas. Whether the hazard is a step, a gap, uneven ground or a low doorway, use signs to call attention to the hazard so that employees are more cautious.
6. Check the Condition of the Floors and Repair Any Damage
As well as obstacles and spills, the condition of the floors themselves can cause injuries. Make sure there are no cracks or holes in the flooring both inside and outside of your business and repair any problem areas as soon as possible. If you can’t do it quickly, place warning signs around the potential hazard areas until you can repair it.
7. Always Ensure Employees Wear Appropriate Footwear
It may be surprising, but inadequate footwear is also a big reason that many employees have accidents. To eliminate this, ensure that all employees are wearing footwear that is appropriate to their duties.
8. Provide Ladders or Step Stools Where They’re Needed
We’ve all been in a situation where we’ve needed to reach something so we use a nearby chair or table, but this can cause falls and injuries. To prevent this in the workplace, provide ladders and step stools in areas where they are likely to be used so that employees aren’t tempted to use other methods to reach something.
9. Apply Anti-Slip Materials Where Appropriate
Once certain surfaces have been identified as hazards, it’s important to apply the necessary safety measures to prevent slips, trips and falls. Do you have tiled floors that could become slippery when wet? Do your stairways have handrails and reflective tape on the top and bottom step? Have you removed any unsecured rugs or carpets from the stairs or landings? Apply these measures and keep your employees safe from injury.
Whilst slips, trips and falls can often be attributed to carelessness or clumsiness, most accidents are preventable. Prevent them in your workplace now by frequently checking your property, promoting good work habits, and applying these safety measures to keep your employees and customers safe.
IS YOUR BUSINESS AS SAFE AS IT CAN BE?
If you need any help or advice about anti-slip measures, don’t hesitate to get in touch; we’d love to help! Applied Products can help you abide by health and safety legislation and keep you and your employees safe.
Applied Products – [email protected] / 01792 895730
