Slips, trips, and falls (STFs) are the most common workplace hazards, they make up over a third of all serious injuries. Each year, more than 10,000 workers, visitors and costumers suffer injuries from slips, trips and falls. The main factors that contribute to STFs:
- The stability and condition of the floor surface.
- The environment; ice, wind, wet, dark.
- Contamination and obstacles.
- Individual wellbeing.
- Footwear.
Please ensure that floors are kept clean, dry, and free from spillages. This includes grease, oil, and even dry materials like sand, as they can all contribute to STFs.
Poor housekeeping accounts for 50% of STFs, including spillages not being cleaned up, trailing cables, and misplaced tools or materials. To help avoid these incidents, please ensure the following:
- Wear the correct footwear.
- Always be aware of your surroundings.
- Look out for obstacles.
- Do not walk while using a mobile phone.
- Clean and tidy up after yourself. If immediate cleaning isn’t possible, cordon off the area to prevent access.
- If you notice a pothole or raised carpet, report it to a colleague or manager.
Remember, failing to clean up after yourself could result in someone else’s trip to the hospital.
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