Slip-and-fall accidents create a lot of chaos in the modern workplace. Any job, no matter how safe it may seem, has the potential for slip-and-falls to occur.
To that end, the best way to prevent a slip-and-fall is to understand the primary causes and eliminate or combat them.
Common causes of slips
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discuss the causes of slip-and-fall accidents. Slips and falls happen for two different reasons, in most cases.
For slips, they typically occur on slick surfaces like tile and wood flooring. However, they can still occur on slick carpets or other fabric materials that do not provide a lot of traction underfoot. People can also slip on objects placed on carpets, like pieces of discarded plastic wrap.
The most common causes of slip accidents usually involve undetected spills of liquid, people tracking rain or snow into a store through the entrances or exits, or a cleaned spot on the floor not having proper warning signs.
Common causes of trips
Trips happen when a person stumbles due to the floor or something on the floor. Common tripping hazards include area rugs or carpets, wires, clutter or litter. Differences in flooring can cause someone to trip, such as a floor transitioning from carpet to wood.
Abnormalities in the floor may also cause tripping, even if the floor otherwise remains the same. Examples include floors with sudden dips or bends, floors that suddenly transition from one height to another, and floors with warping due to age or moisture.
These are potential issues any worker should prepare to face, as they may occur at any workplace.
