{"id":60625,"date":"2025-06-10T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T10:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/?p=60625"},"modified":"2025-02-25T16:33:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T16:33:48","slug":"watch-your-step-how-to-stop-slips-trips-and-falls-before-they-happen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/watch-your-step-how-to-stop-slips-trips-and-falls-before-they-happen\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch Your Step! How to Stop Slips, Trips, and Falls Before They Happen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Slips, trips, and falls are a major cause of workplace injuries, accounting for approximately 25% of all work-related injuries in the US and the second leading cause of workplace fatalities. Preventing these incidents requires a proactive approach that addresses both unsafe conditions and unsafe behaviors.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Good Housekeeping: The First Line of Defense<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Implement the following practices:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Secure mats, rugs, and carpets to prevent slippage.<\/li>\n<li>Put away objects immediately after use to avoid clutter.<\/li>\n<li>Clean up spills immediately and investigate the cause to prevent recurrence.<\/li>\n<li>Use warning signs in wet floor areas and remove them promptly when dry.<\/li>\n<li>Keep aisles and walkways clear of obstructions.<\/li>\n<li>Arrange equipment to avoid interfering with walkways.<\/li>\n<li>Maintain floors in good condition, eliminating hazards like protruding nails or holes.<\/li>\n<li>Cover floor openings or use guardrails.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Hazard Identification and Reporting<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Alert others and place warnings around any identified fall hazard.<\/li>\n<li>Block off the hazard area.<\/li>\n<li>Correct the hazard if possible.<\/li>\n<li>Report hazards that cannot be corrected to a supervisor.<\/li>\n<li>Report all slips, trips, falls, and near-misses to supervisors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Lighting: An Essential Component of Safety<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensure adequate illumination in walkways, staircases, ramps, hallways, basements, construction areas, and dock areas.<\/li>\n<li>Keep work areas well-lit and clean.<\/li>\n<li>Maintain clear and accessible areas around light switches.<\/li>\n<li>Wear sunglasses outdoors and allow time for your eyes to adjust when entering buildings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Walking Surfaces: Maintaining Safe Conditions<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Watch for changes in floor level, such as steps or ramps.<\/li>\n<li>Keep work areas clear of cords, which pose a tripping hazard.<\/li>\n<li>Report and address hazards like loose stair treads or uneven surfaces.<\/li>\n<li>Clean up spills immediately to prevent slippery surfaces.<\/li>\n<li>Be mindful of uneven surfaces, broken pavement, and loose floorboards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Stairs and Ladders: High-Risk Areas<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Stairs:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Use handrails to maintain balance.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure railings are firmly anchored.<\/li>\n<li>Maintain a clear vision of the floor ahead.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid carrying objects that block your vision.<\/li>\n<li>Take one step at a time, and never run.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Ladders:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Only trained and authorized employees should use ladders.<\/li>\n<li>Inspect ladders before each use.<\/li>\n<li>Check for broken rungs or slippery substances.<\/li>\n<li>Remove damaged ladders from service and tag them &#8220;Do Not Use.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Maintain three points of contact when using a ladder.<\/li>\n<li>Use cones to signal ladder use in high-traffic areas.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure ladders are placed on level, non-slip surfaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Material Handling: Reducing Accidents<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Use proper lifting techniques to maintain balance.<\/li>\n<li>Keep walkways unobstructed and move in a slow, controlled manner.<\/li>\n<li>Carry loads that allow you to see where you are going.<\/li>\n<li>Get help or use lifting devices for heavy items.<\/li>\n<li>Use material handling aids like carts.<\/li>\n<li>Push carts rather than pull them for better visibility.<\/li>\n<li>Use tool belts and buckets to carry tools and materials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Proper Footwear: A Simple Yet Effective Safety Measure<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Wear shoes or boots that fit well, are comfortable, and have adequate traction.<\/li>\n<li>Consider the work environment when selecting footwear.<\/li>\n<li>Look for tread designs that cover the entire sole and heel area.<\/li>\n<li>Consult safety footwear manufacturers for specialized footwear recommendations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Preventing slips, trips, and falls requires a multifaceted approach and depends significantly on individual awareness and actions. While workplaces may have inherent conditions, recognizing dangers, eliminating hazards, and using safety equipment are crucial steps in creating a safer environment.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Expand Your Knowledge<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Expand your knowledge with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/company\/at\/course\/slips-trips-and-falls-training-course\"><b>Slips, Trips, and Falls Training Course<\/b><\/a>. For a deeper dive into specific industry standards and best practices, consider enrolling in our specialized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/company\/at\/course\/slips-trips-and-falls-training-course\"><b>Workplace Safety Management Program<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><b>References<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2018-12\/fy16_sh-29672-sh6_SlipsTripsFallsHandoutforSafetyCommitteeMeetings.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Slips, Trips, and Falls<\/a><\/p>\n<p>National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/falls\/about\/?CDC_AAref_Val=https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/topics\/falls\/default.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/walking-working-surfaces\/faq\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Slips, trips, and falls are a major cause of workplace injuries, accounting for approximately 25% of all work-related injuries in the US and the second leading cause of workplace fatalities. Preventing these incidents requires a proactive approach that addresses both unsafe conditions and unsafe behaviors. Good Housekeeping: The First Line of Defense Implement the following &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":60642,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4058,217],"tags":[4947,4897,1527,4948,4950,2282,4953,4946,4949,4952,4951,2852,2862],"class_list":["post-60625","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-workplace-safety","category-original-infographics","tag-fall-prevention-tips","tag-hazard-identification","tag-ladder-safety","tag-osha-safety-guidelines","tag-proper-material-handling","tag-safety-training-2","tag-slip-resistant-footwear","tag-slips-trips-and-falls-prevention","tag-walking-surface-safety","tag-workplace-accident-prevention","tag-workplace-housekeeping","tag-workplace-injury-prevention","tag-workplace-safety"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60625","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60625"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60625\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60656,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60625\/revisions\/60656"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}