Introduction
Walking and working surfaces, such as floors, stairs and
ladders, are associated with slip, trip and fall accidents.
80 workers are injured every day because of a falls
(1 every 20 minutes )
17,000 lost-time injuries are due to falls in the
workplace each year
Same-level slips and falls account for 65% of all fall
injuries (WSIB, 2013). If you need to work at heights
specific training is required.
Accident Causes
The following are some walking and working surface conditions that contribute to slip, trip and fall
incidents:
Movement of underfoot surfaces (e.g., mats or ladders).
Collapse or breakage of support structures (e.g., floorboards, duckboards, ladder rungs, scaffolding
or climbing/cradle ropes).
Floor surfaces – holes or depressions in floors, slopes, loose flooring, protruding objects, uncovered
drains or pits, curbs, bent floor boards or plates, loose or poorly fitted grating, sagging floor supports,
poor drainage.
Slippery floor surfaces because of composition, age, finish, or lack of maintenance.
Sudden change in traction brought about by walking from one floor surface (e.g., carpeted floor) to
another (e.g., tiled floor).
Stairs – steep, irregular treads, missing or worn treads, clutter, no handrails, poor or uneven lighting,
glare from windows, distraction (e.g., signs or posters) in the area of the stairwell, doors that block
the stairs when open.
Walking and Working SurfaceS
wsps.ca
