Slips, Trips
& Falls
Identification &
Prevention. 

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Slips, Trips
& Falls
Identification &
Prevention

Objectives
• Costs of slips, trips & falls (STFs)
• Definitions
• Causes of STFs
• Risk factors
• Prevention/minimization. 

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Objectives
• Costs of slips, trips & falls (STFs)
• Definitions
• Causes of STFs
• Risk factors
• Prevention/minimization

Costs of STFs
• Slips, trips & falls can happen anywhere in your operation
• Slips & trips can result in falls, possibly disability or death
• Costs to employer & worker can be substantial. 

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Costs of STFs
• Slips, trips & falls can happen anywhere in 
your operation
• Slips & trips can result in falls, possibly 
disability or death
• Costs to employer & worker can be 
substantial

Frequency of STFs
• Slips, trips & falls make up majority of general industry accidents (USDoL)
– 15% of all accidental deaths; 2nd leading cause behind motor vehicles
• ~12,000/year
– One of most frequently-reported injuries
• ~25% of reported claims/year
– Over 17% of all disabling occupational injuries result from falls
• Most could have been prevented. 

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Frequency of STFs
• Slips, trips & falls make up majority of 
general industry accidents (USDoL)
– 15% of all accidental deaths; 2nd leading 
cause behind motor vehicles
• ~12,000/year
– One of most frequently-reported injuries
• ~25% of reported claims/year
– Over 17% of all disabling occupational injuries 
result from falls
• Most could have been prevented

STF Injuries
• Sprains & strains
• Bruises & contusions
• Fractures
• Abrasions & lacerations. 

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STF Injuries
• Sprains & strains
• Bruises & contusions
• Fractures
• Abrasions & lacerations

Typical Injury Sites
• Knee, ankle and/or foot
• Wrist &/or elbow
• Back &/or shoulder
• Hip
• Head. 

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Typical Injury Sites
• Knee, ankle and/or foot
• Wrist &/or elbow
• Back &/or shoulder
• Hip
• Head

Definitions
• Slip
– Too little friction or traction between feet (footware) & walking/working surface, resulting in loss of balance. 

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Definitions
• Slip
– Too little friction or 
traction between feet 
(footware) & 
walking/working 
surface, resulting in 
loss of balance

Definitions
• Trip
– Foot or lower leg hits object & upper body continues moving, resulting in loss of balance
– Stepping down to lower surface & losing balance
Potential Trip Hazards?. 

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Definitions
• Trip
– Foot or lower leg hits 
object & upper body 
continues moving, 
resulting in loss of 
balance
– Stepping down to 
lower surface & losing 
balance
Potential Trip Hazards?

Definitions
• Fall
– Occurs when too far off center of balance
• Two types
– Fall at same level
• Fall to same walking or working surface, or fall into or against objects above same surface
– Fall to lower level
• Fall to level below walking or working surface. 

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Definitions
• Fall
– Occurs when too far off center of balance
• Two types
– Fall at same level
• Fall to same walking or working surface, or fall into 
or against objects above same surface
– Fall to lower level
• Fall to level below walking or working surface

Causes of Slips
• Wet product or spills on smooth floors or walking surfaces
– Water
– Mud
– Grease
– Oil
– Food
– Blood
– Offal. 

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Causes of Slips
• Wet product or spills 
on smooth floors or 
walking surfaces
– Water
– Mud
– Grease
– Oil
– Food
– Blood
– Offal

Causes of Slips
• Dry product or spills making walking surface slippery
– Dusts
– Powders
– Granules
– Wood
– Plastic wrapping. 

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Causes of Slips
• Dry product or spills making walking 
surface slippery
– Dusts
– Powders
– Granules
– Wood
– Plastic wrapping

Causes of Slips
• Highly-polished floors can be slick even when dry
– Concrete
– Marble
– Ceramic tile
• Freshly-waxed surfaces
• Transitioning from one surface to another
– Carpeted to vinyl
– Grid to smooth concrete. 

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Causes of Slips
• Highly-polished floors can be slick even 
when dry
– Concrete
– Marble
– Ceramic tile
• Freshly-waxed surfaces
• Transitioning from one surface to another
– Carpeted to vinyl
– Grid to smooth concrete

Causes of Slips
• Sloped walking surfaces
• Loose, unanchored rugs or mats
• Loose floorboards or shifting tiles
• Wet, muddy or greasy shoes
• Ramps & gang planks without skid- or slip-
resistant surfaces. 

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Causes of Slips
• Sloped walking surfaces
• Loose, unanchored rugs or mats
• Loose floorboards or shifting tiles
• Wet, muddy or greasy shoes
• Ramps & gang planks without skid- or slip-
resistant surfaces

Causes of Slips
• Metal surfaces
– Dockboards & dock plates
– Platforms
– Sidewalk & road covers
• Mounting & dismounting vehicles & equipment
• Climbing ladders
• Loose, irregular surfaces such as gravel. 

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Causes of Slips
• Metal surfaces
– Dockboards & dock plates
– Platforms
– Sidewalk & road covers
• Mounting & dismounting vehicles & 
equipment
• Climbing ladders
• Loose, irregular surfaces such as gravel

Causes of Slips
• Sloped, uneven or muddy terrain
• Weather hazards
• Leaves, pine needles & other plant debris (wet or dry). 

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Causes of Slips
• Sloped, uneven or muddy terrain
• Weather hazards
• Leaves, pine needles & other plant debris 
(wet or dry)

Causes of Trips
• Uncovered hoses, cables, wires or extension cords across aisles or walkways
• Clutter, obstacles in aisles, walkway & work areas
• Open cabinet, file or desk drawers & doors. 

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Causes of Trips
• Uncovered hoses, cables, wires or 
extension cords across aisles or walkways
• Clutter, obstacles in aisles, walkway & 
work areas
• Open cabinet, file or desk drawers & doors

Causes of Trips
• Changes in elevation or levels
– Unmarked steps or ramps
• Rumpled or rolled-up carpets/mats or carpets with curled edges
• Irregularities in walking surfaces
– Thresholds or gaps
• Missing or uneven floor tiles & bricks. 

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Causes of Trips
• Changes in elevation or levels
– Unmarked steps or ramps
• Rumpled or rolled-up carpets/mats or 
carpets with curled edges
• Irregularities in walking surfaces
– Thresholds or gaps
• Missing or uneven floor tiles & bricks

Causes of Trips
• Damaged steps
• Non-uniform, improper or irregular steps
– Taller of shorter
– Shallower tread depth
– Otherwise irregular
Tread
Riser. 

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Causes of Trips
• Damaged steps
• Non-uniform, improper or irregular steps
– Taller of shorter
– Shallower tread depth
– Otherwise irregular
Tread
Riser

Causes of Trips
• Debris, accumulated waste materials
• Trailing cables, pallets, tools in gangways
• Objects protruding from walking surface
• Uneven surfaces
• Sidewalk/curb drops
• Speed bumps
• Tire bumpers
• Wheelchair ramps & curbs
• Driveways. 

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Causes of Trips
• Debris, accumulated waste materials
• Trailing cables, pallets, tools in gangways
• Objects protruding from walking surface
• Uneven surfaces
• Sidewalk/curb drops
• Speed bumps
• Tire bumpers
• Wheelchair ramps & curbs
• Driveways

Environmental Conditions Increasing Risk of Trips & Slips
• Poor lighting
• Glare
• Shadows
• Bulky PPE (includes improper footware)
• Excess noise or temperature
• Fog or misty conditions
• Poor housekeeping
• Improper cleaning methods & products
• Inadequate or missing signage. 

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Environmental Conditions 
Increasing Risk of Trips & Slips
• Poor lighting
• Glare
• Shadows
• Bulky PPE (includes 
improper footware)
• Excess noise or 
temperature
• Fog or misty conditions
• Poor housekeeping
• Improper cleaning 
methods & products
• Inadequate or missing 
signage

• Failing eyesight &/or visual perception
• Age
• Physical condition & fatigue
• Stress or illness
• Medications, alcohol & drug effects
Human Factors Increasing
Risk of Trips & Slips - Physical. 

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• Failing eyesight &/or visual perception
• Age
• Physical condition & fatigue
• Stress or illness
• Medications, alcohol & drug effects
Human Factors Increasing
Risk of Trips & Slips - Physical

Human Factors Increasing
Risk of Trips & Slips - Behavior
• Carrying or moving cumbersome objects or simply too many objects at one time
• Not paying attention to surroundings or walking distracted
• Taking unapproved shortcuts
• Being in a hurry and rushing. 

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Human Factors Increasing
Risk of Trips & Slips - Behavior
• Carrying or moving cumbersome objects 
or simply too many objects at one time
• Not paying attention to surroundings or 
walking distracted
• Taking unapproved shortcuts
• Being in a hurry and rushing

STFs are Preventable
• Design of workplace & work processes
– Design workplace & processes to prevent potential exposures to slip & trip hazards
• Good housekeeping
– Maintain clear, tidy work areas free of clutter
• Safe walking practices
– Follow safe walking practices & routes
• Wearing proper footwear
– Wear proper footwear with good traction
• Learn to fall “properly”
– There are techniques that can minimize fall injuries. 

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STFs are Preventable
• Design of workplace & work processes
– Design workplace & processes to prevent potential 
exposures to slip & trip hazards
• Good housekeeping
– Maintain clear, tidy work areas free of clutter
• Safe walking practices
– Follow safe walking practices & routes
• Wearing proper footwear
– Wear proper footwear with good traction
• Learn to fall “properly”
– There are techniques that can minimize fall injuries

Workplace/Work
Process Design
• Contain work processes to prevent discharge, splatter, or spillage of liquids, oils, particles, dusts & offal onto floor
– Local exhaust ventilation
– Extraction/collection systems
– Enclosures
– Work surfaces with raised or lipped edges
– Catch/drip pans, drain-offs. 

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Workplace/Work
Process Design
• Contain work processes to prevent 
discharge, splatter, or spillage of liquids, 
oils, particles, dusts & offal onto floor
– Local exhaust ventilation
– Extraction/collection systems
– Enclosures
– Work surfaces with raised or lipped edges
– Catch/drip pans, drain-offs

Workplace/Work
Process Design
• Use drip trays to contain leaks of lubricant onto floor from machinery
– Perform regularly scheduled maintenance
• Use adequate ventilation to avoid smoke, steam & condensation of water & grease onto floor
• Provide adequate lighting to keep work areas, aisles & paths of travel well lit. 

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Workplace/Work
Process Design
• Use drip trays to contain leaks of lubricant 
onto floor from machinery
– Perform regularly scheduled maintenance
• Use adequate ventilation to avoid smoke, 
steam & condensation of water & grease 
onto floor
• Provide adequate lighting to keep work 
areas, aisles & paths of travel well lit

Workplace/Work
Process Design
• Mark/highlight step edges & transition areas (changes in elevations)
– Use anti-skid paint, slip-resistant coatings & strips
• Make sure stairs have sufficient lighting & hand rails
• Provide effective drainage, false floors or work platforms
• Install slip-resistant floors in high risk areas. 

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Workplace/Work
Process Design
• Mark/highlight step edges & transition 
areas (changes in elevations)
– Use anti-skid paint, slip-resistant coatings & 
strips
• Make sure stairs have sufficient lighting & 
hand rails
• Provide effective drainage, false floors or 
work platforms
• Install slip-resistant floors in high risk areas

Housekeeping
• All places of employment clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition
• Workrooms clean & dry
• Platforms, mats, or other dry standing places for wet processes. 

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Housekeeping
• All places of employment clean and orderly and 
in a sanitary condition
• Workrooms clean & dry
• Platforms, mats, or other dry standing places 
for wet processes

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Aisles
• Sufficient safe clearance maintained where mechanical handling equipment is used
• Aisles and passageways kept clear and in good repairs
• No obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard. 

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Aisles
• Sufficient safe clearance maintained where 
mechanical handling equipment is used
• Aisles and passageways kept clear and in good 
repairs
• No obstruction across or in aisles that could 
create a hazard

Portable Ladders
• Maintained in good conditions at all times
• Locks, wheels, pulleys frequent lubrication
• Worn rope replaced
• Safety feet and auxiliary equipment in good shape. 

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Portable Ladders
• Maintained in good 
conditions at all times
• Locks, wheels, 
pulleys frequent 
lubrication
• Worn rope replaced
• Safety feet and 
auxiliary equipment in 
good shape

Slips, Trips & Falls