Slips, Trips and Falls
What are Slips, Trips, and Falls?
Slips, trips, and falls are among the most common workplace incidents and a leading cause of injuries across industries. They happen when a worker loses balance due to hazards like wet floors, cluttered walkways, uneven surfaces, or inadequate lighting. These incidents can lead to fall injuries ranging from sprains and fractures to traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, making them a critical safety concern.
According to recent data, slips, trips, and falls are the second leading cause of workplace fatalities after motor vehicle accidents. In industries like construction and manufacturing, these incidents often occur around unprotected edges, unsafely positioned ladders, and cluttered service rooms. But they’re not limited to high-risk jobs; older adults and employees in other industries face similar risks.
Understanding the common causes and implementing preventive measures is essential for reducing workplace injuries and protecting lives. With the right safety equipment, training, and organizational awareness, slips, trips, and falls are largely avoidable hazards.
Common Hazards and Causes
Slips, trips, and falls occur for many reasons, but the most common hazards include:
- Slips: Caused by spills, ice, dust, or smooth surfaces without mats or traction.
- Trips: Often result from clutter, potholes, cracks, or uneven flooring.
- Falls: Linked to unsafe practices such as climbing on equipment, failing to use handrails, or working near unprotected edges.
Additional risk factors include inadequate lighting, poorly maintained stairs, and equipment left in walking areas. In many cases, these incidents can be prevented by immediately cleaning spills and removing clutter. Ensure that your teams also conduct regular inspections.
Why It Matters
Slips, trips, and falls account for thousands of severe injuries and fatal falls each year. They disrupt productivity, increase insurance costs, and place workers’ lives at risk. Beyond fractures and sprains, some fall incidents cause long-term health impacts, including brain injuries and spinal cord damage.
For safety managers, controlling these hazards requires a combination of hazard assessments, awareness training, and proper controls. By addressing risks proactively, organizations protect employees while also reducing downtime and liability.
Prevention Strategies
Preventing slips, trips, and falls requires both employee awareness and organizational commitment:
- Maintain adequate lighting in all work areas.
- Immediately clean spills and place clear signage until surfaces are dry.
- Inspect and repair cracks, potholes, and damaged flooring.
- Keep walkways and service rooms free of clutter and tools.
- Ensure ladders, platforms, and scaffolds are properly positioned and stable.
- Provide and enforce the use of safety equipment such as guardrails and fall arrest systems.
By prioritizing these practices, industries can drastically reduce fall hazards and protect their workforce from preventable harm.
Toolbox Talks to Explore
Strengthen Safety Culture with Safety Mojo
Preventing slips, trips, and falls starts with awareness, but sustaining a safe workplace requires consistent processes and data-driven insights. Safety Mojo, Mojo AI’s AI-powered platform, automates compliance tasks and digitizes safety forms, while also helps frontline workers stay engaged. With real-time analytics and proactive alerts, Safety Mojo enables organizations to reduce incidents and protect their workforce.