Toolbox Talk: Slips and Trips

Today’s topic is intended to help you look at the potential for your slip and fall injuries – at home or at work – and to give you some ideas for reducing the hazard.

Spills: wet or dry substances
• Clean spills up immediately.
• If a liquid is greasy, make sure the right cleaning agent is used.
• After cleaning, the floor may be wet for some time; dry it where possible.
• Use barriers to tell people the floor is still wet and
• Arrange alternative bypass routes.
• If cleaning is done once a day, it may be possible to do it last thing at night, so it is dry for the start of the next shift.

Wires across walkways
• Put equipment where it doesn’t cause cables or wires to cross where people walk.
• Use covers to securely fix cables or wires to surfaces and restrict access to prevent contact.
• If practical, use cordless tools.

Miscellaneous rubbish
• Keep areas clear, remove rubbish and do not allow it to build up.

Rugs and mats
• Ensure mats are securely fixed and do not have curling edges.

Poor lighting
• Improve lighting levels and place light fixtures to make lighting even for all floor areas.

Slippery surfaces
• Assess the cause and treat accordingly, for example always keep them dry if wet causes the problem.
• In some situations, you may have to treat a surface chemically and use a special cleaning method.

Change from wet to dry floor surface.
• Provide suitable footwear, warn of the slip hazard by using signs, put doormats where these changes are likely to occur.

Changes of level
• Try to avoid. If you can’t, improve lighting, add high visibility tread nosings (like a white or reflective edge to the step).

Slopes
• Improve visibility, provide handrails, use floor markings.

Unsuitable footwear
• Ensure you wear the right footwear, particularly with the right kind of sole.

Click here for a printable format.

Thanks for the share RF!