Top Tips: Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls at Work

Did you know that Nova Scotia has, on average, 3,000 slip, trip and fall claims a year? Slips, trips and falls are a major
cause of costly and serious workplace injuries: The average cost of benefits for a time-loss claim related to slips, trips
and falls is about $5,000.

Preventing slip, trip, and fall injuries in the workplace involves a combination of safety training; communication; learning
from experience (incident investigations); the development of safe work procedures; hazard identification-reporting-
control; and regular inspections. The following are some tips to consider as part of your regular inspection and hazard
control process.

Inside Hazards

l Wet or waxed floors – Do not wait for a small spill to dry itself. Make sure you
clean up spills immediately or post appropriate signage to make others aware
of the hazard and report it to someone who can correct it.

l Carpets – Make sure all rugs and carpets are free of wrinkles, are not frayed,
and are properly tacked down or equipped with nonskid mats.

l Electrical cords and cables – Watch for loose cords and cables that are placed across walking paths.
Reroute the cord/cable so it doesn’t cross a travel path, or, as a last resort, use an appropriate protector
for electrical cords.

l Loose flooring – Watch for loose tiles, bricks, pavement, or floorboards. Remove or replace loose flooring, put up
barriers to prevent people from walking over damaged flooring, or, as a last resort, post appropriate signage to
make others aware of the hazard.

l Oil or grease on floors – Monitor equipment that may generate oil or grease spills. Have rags, an oil absorbent
product (e.g., kitty litter) and detergent ready whenever you use oily materials. Do not let grease or oil
accumulate on the floor.

l Untidy floors – Do a visual sweep of walking areas for debris. Pick up or remove any loose items. Even a small
object on the floor can cause a trip and fall.

l Drawers – Watch for open drawers in office areas. Keep them closed.
l Tools and equipment – Tools or equipment not stored properly may create tripping hazards. Ensure tools and
equipment are stored in designated areas away from walking paths.

l Lighting – Make sure stairways and hallways are well lit. Replace burnt out lights. Use a flashlight if you enter
a dark room where there is no light.

l Stairs – Promote the use of handrails with signage when travelling on stairs. Treads on stairs, especially the
front edge, must be maintained. The risk of falling increases if the height of each step in a flight of stairs is
not consistent.
Inside Hazards continued

l Footwear – Select footwear for employees that is appropriate for the work environment. Annual footwear
inspections help ensure that footwear has the proper tread and is appropriate for the work environment.

l Manageable loads – Carry only what you can handle. Make sure you can see clearly over the load you are
carrying. Take your time and make multiple trips if necessary. Do not carry loads that require two hands when
travelling up or down stairs, steps, or ladders.

l Stepladders – Maintain appropriate contact on a fully open ladder, with 2 feet on the rungs and knees against
higher rungs. Also, keep your body centered working over top of ladder.

l “Makeshift ladders” – Do not use furniture or boxes as a makeshift ladder. Use a Grade 1 or 2 sturdy, balanced
stepladder or a step stool made specifically for that purpose.

l Extension ladders – Ensure ladder is secure and use three points of contact when ascending and descending.
l Clothing – Hems and cuffs should be short enough so that you do not catch a heel while walking or get hooked
when walking.

Outside Hazards

l Three points of contact – When entering or exiting vehicles or equipment,

maintain three points of contact at all times (both hands and one foot or both feet
and one hand) to minimize the chance of slipping and falling.

l Outside lighting – Make adjustments based on the season. Outside lighting that
is operated on timers should be adjusted for the season and/or time change.

l Footwear – Ensure you have proper footwear for the elements. Fashion does not trump safety.
l Slippery or uneven walking surfaces – Reduce the risk posed by slippery or uneven surfaces by filling in,
cordoning off, covering the area, or using high friction coatings. If this isn’t possible, take more care when
walking on these surfaces.

l Snow and ice – Prior to the winter months, ensure plans are in place to remove snow and ice and apply salt or
sand as needed. Pay close attention to areas that drain poorly or accumulate snow.

l Weather – Pay attention to the weather forecast and be aware of the additional risk associated with rain, snow
and black ice. To improve traction in icy conditions, ice cleats can be worn while working outdoors and removed
for indoor activities.

l Steps and walkways – Monitor stairs and walkways for snow and ice buildup and put measures in place to clear
and salt/sand as needed. Promote the use of handrails with signage when travelling on steps.

l Tools and debris – Poor housekeeping can happen even outside. Gather up and remove debris to keep the
worksite clean and clear. Plan for the appropriate disposal of scrap, waste and surplus materials to eliminate
tripping hazards. Store tools properly when not in use.

l Hoses and power cords – Keep hoses and power cords from lying in walkways.

Safety First
By working together to identify the hazards and putting proper control measures in place we can reduce the
number of slip, trip and fall injuries in our workplaces. For more information and resources, visit our website at:
worksafeforlife.ca/slips-falls. Do your part so we can all go home safely at the end of the day to what matters most.

Nova Scotians – safe and secure from workplace injury