How to prevent slip and fall accidents in the workplace: Seven important precautions to take

Unfortunately, even with the latest health and safety standards in place, slip and fall accidents are still common in workplaces.

However, all it takes is ensuring preventive measures have been put in place and all members of staff know what to do in order to stop slip and fall accidents from occurring.

Here are seven important precautions that you can take.

1) Keep pathways clean

Slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries, to name just a few. So, it’s imperative that you take the right precautionary measures.

However, if someone does have an accident from slipping and falling at the workplace, they can at least hire a slip and fall accident attorney who can help the injured person to gain compensation.

But by taking precautions, you could prevent accidents from happening in the first place. The first important precaution to take is something that members of staff should be aware of at all times: keeping walking surfaces clear and free of clutter.

When paths are unobstructed, the opportunities for employees to slip and fall become minimized.

2) Regularly check staircases and handrails

Stairs are a common place where workplace slips and falls happen. Stairways should always be clean, but not slippery, clear of objects, and well lit.

Just as important are the handrails. If there is a wobbly handrail that someone is unaware of, it would be easy to trip while walking up or down a staircase.

Make sure all of your staircases have handrails and ensure every handrail is secure. It could be a good idea to mark them with reflective tape too.

One more thing you should be aware of regarding the safety of staircases: if the stairs are carpeted, make sure the carpet is never loose on any section. All stair carpets must be tightly secured.

3) Ensure employees always wear the right footwear

It isn’t only things like obstructive objects and loose carpeting that can cause slip and fall accidents. Employees could have such accidents if they’re wearing the wrong footwear.

Make sure all of your workers wear appropriate shoes for their specific work conditions. Shoes with traction are always a good idea.

4) Clean up spills straight away

Any spills should always be cleaned up immediately, so make sure all employees are aware of that. Ensure all workers know why it is so important, too.

When spills happen, floors become slippery. Of course, that increases the chances of slip and fall accidents happening.

Clear signage should be put in place around the spill if an employee needs to leave the area, to stop people from walking through the spill.

5) Put up signs in potentially hazardous areas

Speaking of signage, you should make use of signs in all areas where accidents are more likely to occur and in potentially hazardous areas.

For instance, you could put up a sign to inform people of a gap in the floor or uneven ground. Use reflective tape and clear lettering on signs to ensure everybody sees them.

6) Install proper lighting

We already mentioned that staircases should be well lit, but that goes for all other areas of the workplace.

Proper lighting should be installed inside and outside of the workplace, especially in dark areas that could be hazardous for slips and falls.

Consider using advanced lighting like illuminated steps and spotlights to further ensure employees’ safety.

7) Secure your carpets and ensure walking surfaces aren’t slippery

Another thing we touched upon earlier was loose carpeting. Again, that doesn’t just apply to staircases.

In places where you use carpets in your workplace, ensure they are non-skid and completely secure. You should also continually ensure that all walking surfaces aren’t slippery.

Photo by T.H. Chia