Slips, trips, falls

Home » Hazards / Risks » Slips, trips, falls

Slips, Trips & Falls  

Slips, Trips and Falls are one of the highest causes of workplace injuries in the Disability Sector.  They include those which occur on the same level as a result of uneven or slippery surfaces etc as well as falls from height due to falls down steps, off ladders etc.  The causes of such incidents can range from incorrect footwear, inattention, poor lighting or unpredictable work environment.

Disability Service Providers should implement a Falls Prevention Procedure is to ensure that ‘reasonably foreseeable’ fall hazards are identified and eliminated or controlled in a manner consistent with legislative requirements in order to reduce the risk of injury or death for all staff, volunteers, clients, visitors and contractors.

Procedure

a. Ensure Safe Access to Places of Work

Managers and supervisors must ensure safe access to all places of work. Workplace OHS inspections and good housekeeping practices must be implemented to eliminate or control potential slip, trip and fall hazards in the workplace.

Floors must be designed and maintained to be safe without risks of slips, trips or falls and with adequate lighting provided to enable safe movement around the workplace. Where any faults are identified they should be reported to management for rectification.

b. Identify Slip and Trip Hazards  

Slips usually occur when there is a loss of grip between the shoe and the floor. Trips occur when a persons’s foot hits a low object in their path, causing a loss of balance. Some factors that contribute to the risk of slips and trips include:

  • tasks that create floor contaminants, either wet (eg water, oil) or dry (eg dust, paper);
  • floor surface or illumination level not suitable for activities;
  • footwear not appropriate to the task or work environment;
  • inadequate cleaning arrangements/procedures/products;
  • uneven floor levels, loose floor coverings and joints between flooring materials;
  • storage of objects in walkways and traffic routes;
  • distractions in the workplace;
  • the need to rush tasks;
  • environmental factors (e.g. wet weather, frost, heat or cold stress);
  • individual factors (e.g. eyesight, medical conditions, certain medications, response to heat/cold/noise/stress).

Managers and supervisors must implement the Workplace’s Risk Management Policy to identify, assess, eliminate or control, monitor and review slip and trip hazards in the workplace. The Sample Hazard Checklist and Slips, Trips and Falls Risk Assessment Tool should be used for the identification and prevention of slips, trips and falls on the same level.

Risk control measures should be implemented in line with the Hierarchy of Controls.  Some possible risk control measures include:

  • Enforce the wearing of rubber soled shoes
  • Provide support workers with torches to use when visiting client homes or on community access when illumination may be low
  • Request that support workers spend time removing any possible trip hazards before commencing work e.g. rug over cord, move boxes from corridors etc.
  • Include the regular cleaning of floor contaminants in safe work procedures and housekeeping practices. 
  • Reinforce the need to watch where walking on a regular basis.

c. Prevent Falls from Height 

Activities where there is a risk of falling from height (or into depth) include, but are not limited to:

  • work on rooftop or ladders;
  • climbing rocks, trees or walls;
  • cleaning external windows;
  • climbing stairs
  • entering natural or man-made cavities and shafts, including confined spaces  

Managers and supervisors must implement the Workplaces Risk Management Policy to identify, assess, eliminate or control, monitor and review all such activities. It is essential that risk assessments and safe work procedures (or safe work method statements) are documented and training/instruction is provided.

Risk control measures must be implemented in accordance with legislative requirements and the Hierarchy of Risk Controls:

  • provide and maintain a stable and securely fenced work platform,
    • or if not practicable a secure physical barrier,
    • or if not practicable a fall arrest system;
  • provide a safe means of movement between different levels;
  • if a fall arrest device is provided ensure that –
    • anchorage points are tested before first use and on a regular basis and if faulty are made inoperable, and
    • any harness, safety line or other component of the device that shows wear or weakness is not used, and
    • all persons using the device have received induction and training, and
    • adequate provision is made for the rescue of a person whose fall is arrested by the device (including scheduled practice in the rescue procedure).

When allocating tasks that involve working at height, supervisors must account for the capacity of each individual to complete the task safely (eg their eyesight, medical conditions or medications that affect balance, response to heat/cold/noise/stress).

Individuals must inform their supervisor of any factor that may impact on their capacity to work safely at height.

d. Prevent Falling Objects   

  •  Activities where there is a risk of falling objects include, but are not limited to: raising or lowering plant, material and debris;
  • storing objects on high shelves or rooftop;
  • demolishing a structure.

Managers and supervisors must implement the Workplace OHS Risk Management Policy to identify, assess, eliminate or control, monitor and review all such activities. It is essential that risk assessments and safe work procedures (or safe work method statements) are documented and training/instruction is provided.

Risk control measures must be implemented in accordance with legislative requirements and the Hierarchy of Risk Controls:

  • provide a safe means of raising or lowering objects;
  • provide a secure physical barrier to prevent objects falling freely from a building or structure, or if not possible then provide measures to arrest the fall of objects;
  • provide appropriate personal protective equipment.

 

e. Particular Risk Control Measures for High Risk Activities

Management and supervisors are responsible for implementing the particular risk control measures for falls prevention and falling objects for high risk activities under their control, as detailed in the OHS Regulations 2001.

This includes:

  • access to brittle or fragile roofs,
  • working on or over confined spaces,
  • use of scaffolding or portable work platforms,
  • entering and working in lift wells, and
  • building maintenance and construction.

 

Acknowledgements

NSW OHS Regulation (2001), Chapter 4.2, Division 2 Fall Prevention, and Chapter 4.3 Division 6 Working at Heights WorkCover NSW (2006), “Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls Guide” http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/healthsafety/healthsafetytopics/Slipstripsandfalls

WorkCover NSW (2006), “Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls – Information for Workers Fact Sheet” http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Pages/WC01400_PreventingSlipsTripsandFallsInformationf_.aspx

Workplace Health & Safety Queensland (2007), “Slips, Trips and Falls Prevention Guide”