Effective Strategies for Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls in the Workplace

Three Key Areas for Prevention

There are three effective areas in the prevention of slips, trips, and falls: management systems, contamination control, and obstacle removal.

Management Systems

A good management system should involve thorough planning to ensure the correct cleaning regime is chosen for all surfaces. For example, unclean surfaces can pose a slip hazard, and cluttered walkways pose a trip risk. However, one aspect that is often overlooked is the technique used to clean the surfaces. Some cleaning materials can make floors even more slippery, while others can strip flooring of its special non-slip properties.

Additionally, a management system should include the careful organisation of all staff to ensure that work is carried out in a safe manner. Effective controls are necessary to ensure that all work practices and processes are followed correctly. A good management system also monitors and reviews processes to ensure they are effective.

Implementation and Training

Planning a good management system is just one part of the process; it also needs to be properly implemented. As an employer, you must provide adequate training to all of your staff and create proper signage around anything of importance. As an employee, you must follow your training to the best of your ability and inform your employer immediately if you find anything inadequate.

Contamination Control

With contamination control, you should ensure that any contaminants are cleaned up effectively and that smooth floors are not left wet without proper signage. Using warning signs or cones effectively is crucial as incorrect use or lack of signage significantly increases the risk of an incident.

Types of Contaminants

There are two main types of contaminants: liquids and solids. Liquids include water and oil, whereas solids may be food spills or dust.

Obstacle Removal

Using a simple, common-sense approach to good housekeeping will help to reduce the risk of an incident occurring. Keeping any work area free from materials or rubbish will reduce the risk of slips or trips. This can be done by anyone in any workplace. If you cannot move an obstacle out of the way, either ask someone to help you, talk to your manager, or put up proper warning signs to alert others of the obstruction.

Reporting Hazards

Remember that this can be done in any workplace. If you are visiting another site and see any potential hazards, don’t be afraid to point them out to someone in authority who works there.