WorkSafe Bulletin

Slips, trips, and falls in manufacturing

Slips, trips, and falls put workers at risk of sprains, Slip and trip hazards may also be present in outdoor
strains, bruises, concussions, and fractures. In severe areas such as parking lots, yards, and exterior
cases, falls can lead to death or permanent disability. walkways where ice, snow, rain, raised curbs,
Each year, close to 1,000 workers in manufacturing and unmarked obstacles can contribute to falls.
suffer fall injuries. These injuries cost B.C. businesses The following are some examples where workers
49,000 lost workdays and more than $22 million in have been injured by falls:
claim costs. • A winery worker slipped on a wet staircase and
Falls often result from slipping or tripping. While falls fell to the ground. The resulting ankle fracture took
are extremely common, they are one of the most almost a year to heal.
preventable types of workplace injury. • A woodworking shop worker tripped on an
Under section 4.39 of the Occupational Health and extension cord and fell against the corner of a
Safety Regulation, employers must ensure that floors, wooden cabinet on the floor, resulting in a head
platforms, ramps, stairs, and walkways available for injury. The injury took almost a year to heal.
use by workers are maintained in a state of good • A worker in a plastic processing plant tripped on a
repair and kept free of slipping and tripping hazards. loose tie strap and fell. The resulting wrist fracture
took 8 months to heal.
How slips and trips happen
Slips happen when there is not enough grip or traction Identifying hazards and assessing
between the footwear and the walking surface. This the risks
lack of traction often results from substances on the
As an employer, you should identify all the slip and
walking surface, such as water, ice, oil, grease, dust,
trip hazards in your workplace, which includes your
and debris. These substances may come from work
parking lot, yards, and outdoor access areas. To
processes, spills, weather, leaks, or mopping. Loose
identify hazards, do the following:
rugs or mats, floors with varying traction, and
inadequate footwear can also cause slips. • Inspect the workplace regularly with your joint
health and safety committee.
Trips happen when people lose their balance after
their feet collide with objects or they miss a step • Put in place processes to let workers voice their
when going up or down stairs. Examples of tripping health and safety concerns.
hazards include changes in elevation; damaged or • Analyze fall injuries and near-miss incidents.
worn carpets, rugs, and mats; uneven pavement;
You should also inspect for slip and trip hazards
cluttered walkways; unsecured cables or extension
when changing equipment, processes, or the layout
cords; poor lighting; unmarked steps or curbs; and
of your workplace.
obstructed views. Wearing the wrong size or type
of footwear or not picking up your feet completely After identifying the hazards, the next step is
when walking can also lead to trips and falls. to assess the level of risk that each hazard poses

WS 2014-12 WorkSafeBC Prevention Information Line: 604.276.3100 page 1 of 4

Rev. Jul. 2019 or toll-free 1.888.621.SAFE (7233)
to workers. This allows you to prioritize which of eliminating or substituting slip and trip hazards
hazards to control first. include the following:
As you assess each slip and trip hazard, you should • Install electrical wires, cords, and hoses where they
consider the following questions: won’t create tripping hazards. For example, install
• How many workers are exposed to the hazard? overhead retractable cords and additional power
The higher the number, the higher the risk. outlets, or change the location of outlets if needed.

• How severe could a fall injury be? For example, • Avoid the use of extension cords for stationary
a fall can be more serious if it occurs near hot, equipment. Consider hardwiring the equipment
sharp, or moving objects, or at a height. instead.

• How long are workers exposed to the hazard? • Relocate walkways to avoid high-risk areas such as
The longer the exposure, the higher the risk. equipment drainage points or uncovered exterior
walkways where rainwater or snow accumulates.
• How frequent is the exposure? If workers are
exposed to the hazard many times each shift, Engineering controls
it usually carries more risk. Install slip-resistant floors or coverings
Most types of floors are relatively slip resistant when
Controlling the risks dry. However, any contaminants (such as water,
Once you’ve identified the hazards and assessed dusts, oils, or solvents) can greatly reduce the slip
the risks, the next step is to implement risk controls. resistance. Do the following to control the risk:
Select controls according to the hierarchy of
• Install slip-resistant floors or floor coverings that
controls (see diagram below), from most effective
match the contaminants in your workplace. The slip
to least effective.
resistance of these products should be tested using
Elimination or substitution methods defined by a reputable third-party
standards organization such as ASTM, ANSI, or ISO.
Design out the hazard
Suppliers should be able to provide comparative data
The best options for controlling slip and trip hazards on the slip-resistant properties of a range of products
are to eliminate them at the design stage or substitute under both dry and wet or contaminated conditions.
them with something less hazardous. Examples

Hierarchy of controls
Most Physically remove the hazard (e.g., install
effective Elimination electrical wires and cords where they won’t
create trip hazards; remove trip hazards)

Substitution Replace the hazard (e.g., relocate walkways;

change floor cleaning methods)

Engineering controls Isolate workers from the hazard (e.g., place

slip-resistant mats; install handrails)

Administrative Change the way workers work (e.g., implement good

controls housekeeping practices; perform inspections)

PPE Protect workers with personal protective equipment (e.g., ensure

Least
workers wear suitable footwear)
effective

page 2 of 4
• For existing floors, apply slip-resistant coatings • Broken stairs, ladders, work platforms, or handrails
or strips, or texturize the floors to increase slip
• Worn-out slip-resistant coatings or strips
resistance on slippery areas.
• Any concerns brought up by workers, such as poor
• In areas where floors are constantly wet or
lighting or raised carpet edges
contaminated, place thick, slip-resistant mats with
bevelled edges and holes that allow oils and other There may be times when a hazard has been
fluids to drain away from the working surface. identified but can’t be eliminated immediately. In these
cases, implement interim plans such as temporarily
• Provide water-absorbent entrance mats so workers relocating walkways or restricting access.
can dry their shoes when it’s raining.
Establish and maintain housekeeping practices
• Install covers, drip pans, containers, or containment
Establishing good housekeeping practices is an
rooms to prevent the release of contaminants from
important step in preventing fall injuries. Examples
equipment to the floor.
include the following:
Administrative controls • Designate and mark walkways, and keep them clear
Carry out preventive maintenance at all times. Make sure workers use designated
As an employer, you should perform workplace walkways by role modelling and enforcing this
inspections to identify and fix conditions such as: behaviour. If walkways are marked, make sure the
paint is slip resistant, and test it before applying it.
• Machinery, equipment, or processes that
release contaminants onto the floor (for example, • Set standards and assign resources for ensuring
equipment that leaks fluids) all spills and debris are cleaned up promptly.

• Holes, potholes, missing tiles, or uneven paving • Make sure all tools, equipment, and materials
on walkways are stored in their designated locations. Start by
defining a specific place for each item, and ensure
all workers follow this standard.

Provide education and training

As an employer, you should have a system in place
to educate, train, and supervise workers on the
following:
• Understanding the significance and impact of slip
and trip hazards

• Performing cleaning procedures relevant to

their jobs

• Wearing and maintaining appropriate footwear

• Avoiding distractions such as using cellphones

while walking
• Using handrails when going up or down stairs, and
reporting any work activity that prevents following
this procedure

Use handrails on stairs. Report any tasks that prevent you • Slowing down when walking on uneven surfaces,
from following this procedure. through congested areas, or on wet floors

page 3 of 4
• Shortening their stride and angling their feet Investigate falls
outwards when walking on frozen surfaces
All falls should be investigated, regardless of severity.
(“walk like a penguin”)
Incident reports from near misses (when a worker
• Reporting spills or contaminants and/or cleaning fell but wasn’t injured or almost fell) are some of
them up immediately (“clean as you go”) the best sources of information to prevent serious
injuries. An investigation should explain why the
Personal protective equipment (PPE) incident happened by examining the following:
Ensure workers wear appropriate footwear • Environmental conditions such as leaks, spills,
As an employer, you should determine the right type clutter, power cords, etc.
of footwear for workers to wear based on the slip
• Work processes, housekeeping, preventive
and trip hazards in the workplace.
maintenance, inspections, communication,
Not all safety footwear is slip resistant. The CSA signage, and incident reporting
Group standard for protective footwear requires all
• Education and training of workers
slip-resistant footwear manufacturers to include the
“coefficient of friction” test results from a third-party • The hazard awareness, actions, and PPE
laboratory. Higher coefficients of friction mean (e.g., footwear) of the worker who fell
higher slip resistance under specified conditions. • Worker fatigue and fitness for duty (including
Ask for the footwear manufacturer’s advice about factors such as the number of hours worked
the appropriate footwear for your workplace. The and any evidence of impairment)
answer will depend on the types of contaminants
present and the activities carried out in your Regulation requirements
workplace. Try before you buy if possible. • Section 4.39, Slipping and tripping hazards
Below are some general recommendations for • Section 4.40, Wet floors
appropriate footwear for the most common
• Section 4.41, Waste material
workplace contaminants:
• Liquids — Footwear should have a close-packed, For more information
well-defined tread pattern in softer material, with
WorkSafeBC’s website has more information
deep treads on a flexible, flat sole.
about reducing the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
• Loose solids — Footwear should have a more Visit worksafebc.com/slips-trips-falls and
open, well-defined tread pattern with wider worksafebc.com/manufacturing.
channels, deep cleats, and a flexible sole.
• Ice — Footwear should have spikes or studs
that will “bite” into the ice (but may be slippery
on other hard surfaces).
As an employer, you should perform footwear
inspections to verify compliance with your footwear
policy. Pay special attention to the footwear’s treads,
and ensure they are replaced when worn down.

page 4 of 4