Safety Reference Guides

Safety Tips to Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls in the Workplace

More than 200,000 people in the U.S. are injured on the job from slips, trips and falls every year. A large percentage of injuries caused by falls occur in offices. You and your employees can prevent such injuries from occurring in the workplace by following the safety tips listed below.

• Cut down the risk of slipping on wet indoor surface by shortening your stride to keep your center of balance under you and by walking with your feet pointed slightly outward, creating a stable base.
• Wear slip-resistant footwear appropriate for your job.
• Be careful of wet shoes on a dry floor. They can be just as slipery as dry shoes on a wet floor.
• Secure throw rugs to the floor or use rugs with a skid-resistant backing.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Trips most commonly happen when your view is obstructed.
• Be aware of the threshold when you step out of an elevator. It may not always be even with the floor. This is especially true of heavy-duty freight elevators.
• If working on a ladder positioned in front of a door, either lock the door shut, or prop it open.

Safety Tips to Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls in the Workplace has been reprinted with permission from Coastal's Employee Handbook, "Slips, Trips & Falls".