EnglishHazard: Slips and trips
The structure and design of a workplace can be a common cause of work-related injury – for example, slips and trips, which are the second most common cause of work-related injury.
An example of a list of slip and trip hazards to be aware of – such as:
- wet floors
- stairs that are damaged – in particular, the tread (flat surface) and the nosing (the very front edging of a step) or if the stair height varies
- obstructions and objects left lying around on the floor
- trailing cables and wires
- worn carpets or mats placed in the wrong place
- floor surfaces that are holed, cracked, uneven or damaged in some other way
- poor lighting
- wearing the wrong type of footwear
- behaviour – for example, running instead of walking or carrying loads that obstruct the view ahead (more of a risk on stairs)
Control: Slips and trips
The risk of slipping is difficult to control in certain environments, such as kitchens and health care settings where floors are smooth so they are easy to clean but become slippery when wet.
In most workplaces, however, fairly simple measures can be put in place to reduce (if not eliminate) the risk of slips and trips.
For example:
- mopping up spillages as soon as they occur (elimination)
- choosing non-slip flooring (substitution)
- using entrance matting, covering or re-routing cables and wiring, having good lighting and adequate space to do jobs (engineering controls)
- maintaining floors and floor surfaces in good condition, keeping floors free from obstruction through good housekeeping, maintaining premises and equipment to prevent leaks, putting up warning notices and signs, putting rules in place such as no running (administrative controls)
- wearing the correct footwear, including anti-slip soles for some workplaces (PPE)