1. Injury Prevention Slips, Trips and Falls
Massachusetts Retail Merchants Workers’ Compensation Group, Inc.
Safety Awareness For Everyone from Cove Risk Services

2. Injury Prevention
You take hundreds of steps every day, but how many of those steps do you take seriously?
By taking a few minutes to understand how slips, trips, and falls happen, you can prevent needless and painful injuries.

3. Slips, Trips And Falls
Some Statistics…
Falls on the same level were the second leading cause of all workplace injuries
Costs associated with slips and falls grow 10% on an annual basis when most workplace injuries experienced a substantial reduction in their rate of growth
On average, workers who are injured from a same level slip or fall miss an average of 8 days and 30% of all same level slip or fall miss 21 or more days

4. Slips, Trips And Falls Definitions
Slip: Loss of balance caused by too little friction between a person’s foot and a walking surface
Trip: Hit an object, lose your balance and fall
Fall: When you lose your balance and lose your footing

5. PREVENT THEM BY REMEMBERING THE FOLLOWING:
Slips, Trips And Falls
PREVENT THEM BY REMEMBERING THE FOLLOWING:
Know your path of travel - do not allow objects to remain in the way and create a tripping hazard
Know the risk factors – liquids, icy conditions (outside), cords, furniture, carts (see the following slide)
Wear right footwear – it is essential to preventing slips
React promptly – remove the hazards, clear up spillages quickly (if inside - use signage until area is clean – remove the sign when the floor is dry) ~ don’t wait for someone else to do it
Communicate hazards to others – meetings, awareness handouts, posters, etc.

6. Slips, Trips And Falls Watch out for: Worn or loose carpets Cords!
Urine
Water
Food
Broken stair tread edges
Cracked floorboards and tiles
Watch where you walk!
Footwear – slip resistant
Pick up objects that fall – don’t wait for someone else to do it!
Never, never, never assume the floor is dry
Transitions

7. SLIPS (defined): to slide along smoothly resulting in a sudden mishap.
Winter Walking surfaces are unpredictable – footwear is vital
Weather conditions may cause the floors to be wet or the ground to be icy.
Make sure carpets extend beyond the moisture at entrances
Always look where you are stepping and use caution on wet floors and ice to avoid slipping. Never assume the walking surface is dry.

8. TRIPS (defined): to catch the foot on something so as to stumble.
Damaged steps or misplaced items are major factors in trips.
Make sure that steps you use often are in good shape and that items (that do not belong on the steps) are out of the way.
Always use handrails when ascending or descending stairs.
Watch where you are going

9. Stairs
Create visual awareness to steps by installing proper stair treads with yellow edges.
Distraction on stairs
Take one step at a time
Don’t load your arms so full of materials that you can’t see
Keep one hand on the handrail
Don’t congregate on stairs or landings
Keep stairs well lit

10. Other Hazards
Prevent a potential injury by cleaning up spills and wet floors.
Keep aisles and walkways clear of clutter or obstructions.
Pick up objects and move extension cords to eliminate the potential for injury.

11. Your Responsibilities
If something is creating a potential slip, trip, or fall hazard fix it (clean it up - move it).
Place signs to warn others of the potential hazard.
If you can not fix it – Report it to a manager so that the maintenance department can abate the hazard.

12. ?? Any Questions Safety Awareness For Everyone from Cove Risk Services
Massachusetts Retail Merchants Workers’ Compensation Group, Inc.
Safety Awareness For Everyone from Cove Risk Services