Steady! Preventing slips and falls at work

No matter the industry you work in, slips and falls are a nuisance for every employer and employee. Slips, trips and falls should be one of your top priorities. Even though most of these incidents are unfortunate accidents, there are still some steps you can take to prevent them. Below, we’ll go over the more common causes of slips and falls at work and we’ll give you some great tips to keep your workplace a bit safer.

Causes of slips and falls

In general, employees slip or fall due to wet surfaces. However, these wet surfaces can have various reasons. While rain, or snow, may be the number one cause of wet surfaces on outdoor construction sites, spills or cleaning activities could be the leading cause of wet surfaces indoors.

Because these causes are quite common in most workplaces, you need a clear plan of action in order to keep your employees safe. You’ll want to make sure you offer your team the appropriate shoes and clothing to work each day safely and reduce the chances of them slipping on any wet or uneven surfaces you may have.

Caution!

• Whenever there are wet surfaces, you should walk slowly, take small steps and keep an eye on the floor so you can minimise the chances of you slipping.
• Keep your office or work site clean. If there isn’t any water, grease or equipment cluttering the environment, accidents are less likely to happen.
• When floors are being cleaned or have just been cleaned, ensure that there are signs indicating slick surfaces ahead.
• Install clear signage that indicates any obstructions of paths, hazards or other things to look out for.
• Instruct your employees to wear proper footwear that will give them enough grip to stand their ground.

Invest in Fall Prevention

Especially for construction workers that work at great heights, a fall prevention plan is incredibly important. It details all the measures taken to prevent slips or falls at work, and the clothing an employee needs to wear for their safety. Furthermore, it describes all the hazards a site or workplace has – including future or potential hazards.

That means you can never forget to assess your individual situation. Copying another company’s prevention plan or a random template you found online will not cut it. You need to actually identify the unique hazards associated with your workplace.

It also details the steps an employee needs to take before using any PPE or equipment. Let’s say a worker needs to wear a harness to perform a job – you’d want them to know how to wear it properly so no accidents ensue, right?

The only thing that’s left to do is make sure that your employees know this plan by heart.