Slips, Trips, and Falls: A Call to Duty

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

Slips, trips, and falls are a problem globally. Safety and health professionals must work diligently to protect workers and the public from injury. Property owners and/or occupants have a duty to mitigate hazards and reduce or eliminate risks of injury to visitors, customers, or travelers. Older workers and citizens are at greatest risk. Many types of hazards and conditions have been identified that increase the chances of pedestrian slip, trip and fall injuries. Common indoor hazards include slippery floors due to wax, water, tracked in snow and/or ice, spills, loose carpets or mats, uneven flooring, transition areas, raised edges, worn flooring, or items left on the floor such a cords, tools, equipment, unused material or waste. In the outdoor environment, and in cold climates snow and ice, are the major hazards associated with slips, trips, and falls and should be addressed immediately. Additional outdoor hazards are uneven surfaces, objects, potholes, mud, water, and debris from natural sources or human activity. Preventing slips, trips, and falls can be as simple as evaluating the hazards, determining risks, identifying controls, implementing controls and prevention strategies, and evaluating effectiveness to reduce the burden of slip, trip, and fall injuries and fatalities.

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