Guides & Toolkits

2 325-003-01-IGDO © 2019, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) 1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | 905 614 1400 | wsps.ca Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls When there is an unexpected change in the contact between your feet and the ground or walking surface, the result is usually a slip or trip. This demonstrates the importance of training and educating employees about the hazards, selecting suitable walking surfaces, having proper housekeeping standards, and wearing proper footwear to prevent falls. Here are a few different methods of controlling hazards leading to slips, trips, and falls. Training and Education It is very important that all workers and employers be trained on recognizing hazards related to slips, trips, and falls in their workplace. Many workers are not aware that they can contribute to the risks of a slip, trip and fall hazard through typical work tasks. A couple of examples of a worker creating hazards through work habits are: Leaving a mess behind after completing a task by not following workplace housekeeping standards after receiving training to do so Putting boxes in walkways, on the stairs, or in high traffic areas where there are designated storage spaces and racks Workplace policies and worker behaviour have significant impact on the incidence of slips, trips and falls. Time pressures for completing tasks can cause behaviours such as rushing, not paying attention, and being unaware of hazards due to a lack of training can mistakenly be seen as carelessness. Workplaces should identify potentially dangerous hazards and behaviours and control or eliminate them through education and communication. Workers and employers need to know how to properly identify, report, or eliminate any hazards that can be encountered in their work; this may require specific standards and training. For example: Employers should set good housekeeping standards, provide supervision, information, and training Workers should be trained on spill cleanup and proper disposal of spilled materials such as chemicals, oils, inks, coolants, grease, etc. Workers should be trained on how to prevent falls on icy, wet, and unstable conditions (loose gravel or sand) PREVENTING SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS WSPS.CA

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