By Bob Lauzonis, Loss Control Specialist

 

Gravity--what's it costing you? Overall, slips, trips and falls are a major accident type in most industries, including county operations. They account for 10% to 30% of injuries to employees and the general public and have an average cost ranging from $2,500 to $12,000. According to the National Safety Council, slips, trips and falls are the second leading cause of accidental deaths.

 

Slips, trips and falls may occur on level walking surfaces as well as on ramps and stairways. Major hazards associated with slip, trip and fall injuries are slippery surfaces, holes or broken surfaces, poor drainage or inadequate clean-up of spills or mud, ice, and water during inclement weather. Falls are frequently the result of both unsafe conditions and unsafe acts. Personal factors such as age, illness, emotional state, fatigue, inattention, and poor vision also contribute to falls.

 

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

  

A "slip" occurs when there is too little traction or friction between the shoe and walking surface. A "trip" occurs when a person's foot contacts an object in their way or drops to a lower level unexpectedly, causing them to be thrown off-balance. A trip most often results in a person falling forward, while a slip most often results in the person falling backward. A "fall" occurs when a person is too far off-balance.

 

SOME SITUATIONS THAT CAN CAUSE INJURIES

  

There are many situations that may cause slips, trips and falls, such as ice, wet spots, grease, polished floors, loose flooring or carpeting, uneven walking surfaces, clutter, electrical cords, open desk drawers and filing cabinets. Loose, irregular surfaces such as gravel, shifting floor tiles and uneven sidewalks, can make it difficult to maintain your footing. Most slip, trip and fall incidents are preventable with general precautions and safety measures. Injuries from falls may be caused by a variety of sources. Many of these sources, like curbs, flaws in parking lots and uneven lawns, are not of significant height, but have the potential to cause significant injuries. The best way to prevent injuries such as these is to be aware of where you are going and pay attention to your walking surface.

 

MOST COMMON CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

 

Surface composition

 

Types of slip-resistant floors to consider include brushed concrete, sheet vinyl with abrasive material, and seamless epoxy or urethane with surface aggregate. Porous surfaces tend to be most slip resistant.

 

Foreign substance potential

 

Floor areas that are likely to be wet or spilled upon (foyers, lunch rooms, kitchens, etc.), or contain other foreign substances (grease on a garage floor, for example) are potential danger areas for slips or falls.

 

Surface conditions

 

Loose or torn carpeting, broken tiles and parking lot divots are examples of surfaces that create potential tripping hazards.

 

Surface changes

 

Changes in floor surfaces, such as carpet to tile, can create a slip or trip hazard as a person has established a "gait" on one surface and must change his or her "gait." Look for and eliminate or control these conditions.

 

Level changes

 

Ramps, sloping areas, ledges, steps (three or fewer) and similar surface irregularities can pose a slip/trip hazard. Be aware of such conditions, especially when there is no "color contrast" to call attention to the change.

 

Obstructions

 

Extension cords, furniture, planters, floor displays and parking lot bumpers are examples of obstructions. When located near a common pathway, they have historically contributed to a number of trips and falls, some with serious consequences. Move or eliminate obstructions or highlight or call attention to them with bright paint.

 

Visibility

 

Lighting, glare and lack of color contrast are the most common examples of visibility concerns.

 

Stairs

 

Stairs are defined as having more than three steps, up or down. The presence of handrails (consider both side and center handrails) and overall stairway condition, including height and depth of risers and treads, are factors to take into account when determining the degree of hazard.

 

Human factors

 

Consider the age of customers and associates, as well as shoe types. For example, seniors often have sight and other physical impairments, and children may tend to run and "horseplay." Are there any hazards at a child's eye level that an adult would not normally see? Consider the type of footwear most commonly worn by people walking through the area.

 

CONTROLS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

 

The following are some simple ways to reduce the likelihood of a slip and/or fall on wet or slippery floors:

 

• Use anti-skid adhesive tape in high traffic areas.
• Use absorbent mats in entrance ways during inclement weather. (Caution: Unanchored mats may cause slip hazards themselves. Make sure that mats lie flat and that the backing material will not slide on the floor.).
• Display wet floor signs when appropriate, note that signs are a great awareness tool but should not be the only means of control. Clean up spills and wet floors as soon as practical.
• Have a procedure to deal with spills and ensure spills are reported and cleaned up immediately.
• Use proper mats in areas that tend to be "spill prone" (bathing facilities, food preparations).
• When wet processes are used, maintain proper drainage or use platform mats.

 

If you must walk on a slippery surface:

• Wear proper footwear for better traction on slippery surfaces.
• Point your feet slightly outward, keeping your center of balance under you.
• Take slow, small steps.
• Use your feet as probes to detect possible slip, trip and fall hazards.
• Get your feet underneath your body quickly to maintain your balance after an initial step.
• Use rails or other stable objects that you can hold onto.
• Protect the more vulnerable parts of your body like your head, neck and spine if you do fall.
• When moving from carpet to tile or dry tile to wet tile, etc. the friction (grip) between the sole of the shoe and the floor surface lessens. Alter your stride to take shorter, slower steps.

 

Environmental conditions
 

No matter how well the snow and ice are removed from county sidewalks, parking lots and the surrounding streets, people will invariably encounter some slippery surfaces when walking outdoors in the winter. Many cold-weather injuries are the result of falls on ice-covered streets and sidewalks. Walking on snow or ice is especially treacherous. Getting around on a county premises in icy conditions calls for planning, caution, and a little common sense.

• Dress warmly and wear boots with non-skid soles (avoid plastic and leather soles).
• Keep warm, but make sure you can hear what's going on around you. Wear a bright scarf or hat or reflective gear so drivers can see you, and whatever you wear, make sure it doesn't block your vision or make it hard for you to hear traffic.
• A heavy backpack, briefcase or other load can challenge your sense of balance. Try not to carry too much--you need to leave your hands and arms free to better balance yourself.
• During the daytime, wear sunglasses to help you see better and avoid hazards. At night, wear bright clothing or reflective gear. Dark clothing will make it difficult for motorists to see you--especially if they aren't expecting you.
• When entering a building, remove as much snow and water from your boots as possible. Take notice that floors and stairs may be wet and slippery. Walk carefully.
• Be prepared to fall and try to avoid using your arms to break your fall. If you fall backward, make a conscious effort to tuck your chin so your head doesn't strike the ground with a full force.
• Use special care when entering and exiting vehicles--use the vehicle for support.
• Streets and sidewalks that have been cleared of snow and ice should still be approached with caution. Look out for "black ice." Dew, fog or water vapor can freeze on cold surfaces and form an extra-thin, nearly invisible layer of ice that can look like a wet spot on the pavement. It often shows up early in the morning or in areas that are shaded from the sun.

 

Insufficient or inadequate lighting
 

Insufficient light can make it difficult to see obstacles and notice changes in the walking surface and is associated with an increase in accidents. Move slowly where light is dim and pay increased attention to your path of travel. Moving too fast increases the likelihood you will misjudge a step or encounter a hazard before you have a chance to notice it. If you are moving from light to dark areas, or vice versa; this can cause temporary vision problems that might be just enough to cause a person to slip on an oil spill or trip over a misplaced object. 

 

Changes in elevation
 

Changes in elevation are a major source of trip accidents. Even a change in walking surface of ¼ - ½" or greater will be sufficient to cause a trip. Curbs, cracks in the sidewalk, ramps and single steps are all examples of these hazards. Another type of working and walking surface fall is the "step and fall." This occurs when the front foot lands on a surface lower than expected, such as when unexpectedly stepping off a curb in the dark. A second type of step and fall occurs when one steps forward or down, and either the inside or outside of the foot lands on an object higher than the other side. The ankle turns, and one tends to fall forward and sideways. Changes in elevation may be unavoidable, but there are some simple ways to reduce accidents caused by these hazards:

 

• Watch for bumps, potholes, sidewalk cracks or changes in elevation.
• If you identify a problem area on campus, report it to the appropriate department or to the maintenance services.

 

Climbing or descending stairways
 

Nearly half of all falls occur on stairs. Keeping stairs in good repair is essential to preventing accidents. Make sure that stairways have secure handrails and guardrails, even surfaces, even tread heights and are free of deteriorating coverings such as frayed carpet. To prevent an accident, awareness and prevention is key. Here are some simple ways to prevent a fall incident on stairways:

• Whether going up or down stairs, always use the handrail.
• Make sure stairways are well lit, with on/off switches at the top and bottom.
• Make sure stairways are clear of any obstacles.
• If you are wearing footwear such as high heels or sandals, use extra caution while going up and down.
• If throw rugs are positioned at the top or bottom of stairways, make sure they are secured with a skid-resistant backing.
• Routinely check stairs for loose or worn carpeting.
• Report outdoor stairways if you notice ice, snow or water accumulation.
• When carrying objects up and down steps, be sure you are able to see where you are stepping and hold onto the handrail if possible.
• The chance of fall accidents in stairways increases with inattention, illness, fatigue and haste. Take care when ascending and descending stairways.

 

Housekeeping issues in working and walking areas
 

Proper housekeeping in work and walking areas can contribute to safety and the prevention of falls. Not only is it important to maintain a safe working environment and walking surface, these areas must also be kept free of obstacles which can cause slips and trips. Obstacles could include clutter, obstructions across hallways and material stacked or dumped in passageways, etc. Avoid stringing cords or lines across hallways or in any walkway. If it is necessary to do so, it should be on a temporary basis (i.e., power cords, telephone lines, etc.) and, then the item should be taped down, run overhead or a ramp should run over any cords and hoses.

 

Conclusion
 

Slip, trip and fall accidents are commonly used as "filler material" to entertain people in movies, comedy acts and cartoons. In real life, falls aren't funny. Rather, they're very costly to counties, workers and society.

 

Remember, regular and frequent inspections of offices, workstations and facility walking areas should be conducted to identify office and workplace hazards, conditions and situations which could cause slip, trip and fall accidents.