Injuries resulting from slip-and-fall accidents can range in severity from bruises, sprains, broken bones, and scrapes that require minimal medical treatment and heal relatively quickly to catastrophic personal injury, which cause lifelong damage and requires ongoing medical care. Properly addressing slip, trip and fall hazards promptly can go a long way to protect against liability, while ensuring a safe space for a facility’s occupants.

To meet the Cal/OSHA Standard for fall prevention (California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 3203 & 3273), the Department of Environmental Health at Safety at Stanford University says that building managers must provide appropriate training for all employees working in areas where slip, trip and fall hazards are prevalent.

Managers must also evaluate employees’ compliance with safe work practices. Stanford’s “Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention Guide” suggests starting with an inspection program that identifies hazards at least once a year.

For higher risk areas, a formal inspection is recommended at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently depending on the likelihood of changing conditions. Recommended inspections should minimally include evaluation of the following:

a) Condition of floors, carpets, and steps;

b) Floor maintenance protocol;

c) Housekeeping practices;

d) Lighting levels; and

e) Presence and condition of guardrails/handrails at elevated work surfaces.

 Hazard Control Measures

The following housekeeping procedures and safe work practices must be followed to prevent accidents associated with slip, trip and fall hazards:

• Avoid running or walking too fast, especially in higher risk areas;

• Avoid carrying items that will obstruct one’s view of the walking pathway;

• Avoid walking through potential slip, trip and fall hazards; and

• Use extra caution when traveling both outdoors and indoors during/ following wet weather.

General housekeeping procedures should include the following:

• Clean up spills immediately. For greasy liquids, use suitable cleaning agent; • Do not leave floors wet after cleaning – clean them to a completely dry finish if possible. If “clean-to-dry” is not possible, then use barriers and “wet floor” warning signs to keep people off the wet area;
• Use cleaning methods that do not spread the problem. Small spills are often better dealt with using a paper towel instead of a mop that wets a larger area of floor; and
• Do not use cardboard to soak up spills.

Slip Hazards

Floors, platforms, and walkways shall be maintained in good repair, and reasonably free of oil, grease, or water. Mats, grates, or other methods that provide equivalent protection shall be used on areas where operation requires walking on slippery surfaces.

Slip-resistant floor coatings should be used in areas that are likely to get wet or subject to frequent spills.

Slip hazards must be identified and removed promptly.

Warning signs or other equally effective means (barricades) should be used as a warning system in areas where a slip hazard is present.

Trip Hazards

Platforms and walkways shall be free of obstructions & dangerous projections (e.g. extension cords, power cables, hoses, carts, boxes, debris). Position equipment to avoid cables crossing pedestrian routes; use cable covers securely fixed to surfaces, or consider use of cordless tools.

Surfaces in poor repair (i.e. holes, surface apupheaval, and broken tiles) shall be repaired or guarded by readily visible barricades, rails or other equally effective means. Ensure floor mats and rugs are securely fixed and do not have curling edges.

Fall Hazards

Elevated Locations: Guardrails shall be provided on all open sides of unenclosed elevated locations. An example of elevated locations include: balconies, runway ramps, or working surfaces that are more than 30 inches above the floor, ground, or other working areas of a building.

For Roofs: Guardrails shall be provided at locations where there is routine need for an employee to approach within six feet of the edge of a roof. Where such roof access is needed, no more than four times a year, safety belts, lanyards, or an approved fall protection system may be used in lieu of guardrails.

Stairways: Stairways shall have handrails or stair rails on each side. Ladder Use: When a ladder is used, the employee shall follow safe ladder practices.

Elevating Work Platforms & Aerial Devices (e.g. vertical tower, scissor lift, mast-climbing work platform): Only employees who have been trained and approved by the supervisor shall operate elevating work platforms and aerial devices.

NOTE: Aerial device and elevating work platforms are vehicle-mounted or self-propelled devices designed to elevate a platform/ individual in a substantially vertical axis.

All employees who may be required to work in a higher risk area shall be trained on the following:

• Recognition of potential hazards associated with working in a higher risk area.

• The use of control measures to prevent slip, trip and fall related accidents. The frequency of training provided tothe employees is to be determined by the supervisor, building manager, and EH&S.

Floor Maintenance

Where staff are assigned to perform routine or occasional floor maintenance, training should be provided on established floor maintenance procedures. When new products and/or equipment are used, adequate retraining should be provided for staff for proper usage.

Supervisor Responsibilities

Supervisors are responsible for the following:

a) Identifying work locations that are “Higher Risk Areas.” Examples of higher risk areas include dining hall kitchens and locker rooms where wet floors are common;

c) Loading docks – elevated locations;

b) Ensuring periodic workplace inspection is conducted to identify slip/ trip/ fall hazards;

c) Properly addressing slip, trip and fall hazards promptly;

d) Ensuring appropriate training is provided for all employees who will be working in higher risk areas where slip, trip and fall hazards are prevalent;

e) Evaluating employees’ compliance with safe work practices;

f) Where routine or occasional floor cleaning is performed by departmental staff, creating a floor maintenance procedure and ensuring that personnel properly and consistently follow floor maintenance procedures; and