In 2008, there were almost 235,000 workplace falls that resulted in days away from work injuries. Not mentioning the great economical loss, this figure amounts to a lot of pain and suffering. Of course, many other lead to death, and, in most cases, they did not have to happen.

To prevent such incidents in the workplace it is necessary to understand how fall accidents happen, to identify trouble areas, and eliminate or minimize the hazard of falling.

Statistics from OSHA and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Safety and Health show that the majority (60 percent) of falls happen on the same level, resulting from slips and trips.

Slips happen where there is too little friction or traction between the footwear and the walking surface. Common causes of slips are:

• Wet or oily surfaces;

• Occasional spills;

• Weather hazards;

• Loose, unanchored rugs or mats; and

• Flooring or other walking surfaces that do not have same degree of traction in all areas.

Trips happen when your foot collides with (strikes, hits) an object causing you to lose balance and eventually fall. Common causes of tripping are:

• Obstructed view;

• Poor lighting; • Clutter in your way;

• Wrinkled carpeting;

• Uncovered cables;

• Bottom drawers not being closed; and

• Uneven (steps, thresholds) walking surfaces.

Both slips and trips result from some kind of unintended or unexpected change in the contact between the feet and the ground or walking surface. This shows that good housekeeping, quality of walking surfaces (flooring), selection of proper footwear, and appropriate pace of walking are critical for preventing fall accidents.

Housekeeping

Good housekeeping is the first and the most important (fundamental) level of preventing falls due to slips and trips. It includes:

• Cleaning all spills immediately;

• Marking spills and wet areas;

• Mopping or sweeping debris from floors;

• Removing obstacles from walkways and always keeping them free of clutter;

• Securing (tacking, taping, etc.) mats, rugs and carpets that do not lay flat;

• Always closing file cabinet or storage drawers;

• Covering cables that cross walkways;

• Keeping working areas and walkways well lit; and

• Replacing used light bulbs and faulty switches.

Without good housekeeping practices, any other preventive measures such as installation of sophisticated flooring, specialty footwear or training on techniques of walking and safe falling will never be fully effective.

Flooring

Changing or modifying walking surfaces is the next level of preventing slip and trips. Recoating or replacing floors, installing mats, pressure-sensitive abrasive strips or abrasive filled paint-on coating and metal or synthetic decking can further improve safety and reduce risk of falling.

However, it is critical to remember that high-tech flooring requires good housekeeping as much as any other flooring. In addition, resilient, non-slippery flooring prevents or reduces foot fatigue and contributes to slip prevention measures.

“It’s important to keep a good record of cleaning and maintenance procedures, including products being used,” said Glenn Dusek, a rep for SlipNot Metal Safety Flooring, which produces a slip-resistant coating for metal and concrete floors.

He says, “Slip and falls are a $60 billiona- year problem, and facility managers need to be proactive with floor safety and maintenance programs designed to prevent slips, trips and falls.”

He recommends conducting a walkway audit and that a floor safety program be separate from an overall safety program.

In workplaces where floors may be oily or wet or where workers spend considerable time outdoors, prevention of fall accidents should focus on selecting proper footwear. Since there is no footwear with anti-slip properties for every condition, consultation with manufacturers’ is highly recommended.

Properly fitting footwear increases comfort and prevents fatigue, which, in turn, improves safety for the employee.

Avoid Falling at Work?

It is important to remembering that safety is everybody’s business. However, it is employers’ responsibility to provide safe work environment for all employees. Employees can improve their own safety too.

You can reduce the risk of slipping on wet flooring by:

• Taking your time and paying attention to where you are going;

• Adjusting your stride to a pace that is suitable for the walking surface and the tasks you are doing;

• Walking with the feet pointed slightly outward; and

• Making wide turns at corners. You can reduce the risk of tripping by:

• Always using installed light sources that provide sufficient light for your tasks or; • Using a flashlight if you enter a dark room where there is no light; and

• Ensuring that things you are carrying or pushing do not prevent you from seeing any obstructions, spills, etc.

Falls on Stairs

Stairs of all types have been used since ancient times, and because they are inherently hazardous, people have been falling on them, getting hurt or even killed in the process. In North America, tens of people die and 10s of thousand people are injured every year from the falls on stairs.