Understanding Slips, Trips, and Falls and How to Prevent Them

When we talk about workplace accidents, slips, trips, and falls are often at the top of the list. These types of incidents can happen in the blink of an eye, yet their impact can be significant, both in terms of physical injury and the disruption they cause in the workplace.

In fact, according to the National Safety Council, there were 450,540 nonfatal workplace injuries due to slips, trips, and falls during the 2021–2022 period. This statistic alone should give us pause and remind us of just how critical it is to address slip and fall prevention in the workplace.

Although these types of accidents are commonly linked to industries like construction, they’re just as likely to happen in other work environments. From my experience working in safety compliance, I’ve found that even small changes can make a noticeable difference in preventing these incidents.

So, what can we do to stop them before they happen? It's time we take a closer look at the causes and start putting prevention strategies into action—because failure to prevent even one incident raises the likelihood of further accidents, which can compromise the safety of the entire workplace.

Key Takeaways

• Slips, trips, and falls are distinct: slips occur due to lack of friction between footwear and walking surfaces, trips happen when obstacles or uneven surfaces disrupt movement, and falls are the result of losing balance after a slip or trip.
• Preventing slips, trips, and falls in the workplace requires strategies like keeping walkways clear, using slip-resistant flooring, ensuring proper lighting, and encouraging employees to wear appropriate footwear.
• OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2)) require workplaces to maintain safe walking surfaces, while the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) provides guidelines on floor materials and the coefficient of friction (COF) to mitigate slip hazards.
• Slip, trips, and falls safety tips include immediate actions like assessing the area for additional hazards, checking for injuries, providing first aid, and documenting incidents to prevent future accidents.

What Is the Leading Cause of Slips, Trips, and Falls?

Slips, trips, and falls are often grouped together, but the reasons they happen aren’t the same. The first step in preventing these hazards is knowing what sets them apart.

• A slip happens when there’s not enough grip between your shoe and the walking surface. This usually involves something wet, greasy, or slick underfoot.
• A trip happens when your foot hits something that interrupts your movement. This could be uneven flooring, clutter, or anything sticking out into a walkway.
• A fall is the result of a slip or trip—or sometimes it happens on its own, like when working at height without proper support.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common causes of slips, trips, and falls:

How to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls in the Workplace?

Preventing Slips

• Maintain proper lighting and clear pathways: Adequate lighting helps workers spot slippery surfaces and avoid accidents. It’s essential in areas like hallways, entrances, and breakrooms where slips, trips, and falls are common.
• Control wet or slippery surfaces: Clean up spills immediately and use anti-slip mats in high-risk areas. This helps lower slip and fall injuries in workplaces where water or oils are frequently used.
• Use slip-resistant flooring: Install flooring that provides traction, especially in places exposed to moisture. Non-slip flooring can significantly reduce the risk of slips in kitchens and factories.
• Encourage appropriate footwear: Workers should wear shoes that provide proper grip for their environment. Shoes with non-slip soles are essential in preventing slips in areas prone to wet or oily conditions.
• Maintain high-traffic areas: High-traffic areas should be checked and cleaned regularly. This helps keep floors clear of hazards that could lead to slips and fall-related injuries.

Preventing Trips

• Properly store equipment and materials: Ensure all materials are stored away from walkways and workspaces. Keeping equipment off the floor helps prevent tripping hazards in busy work areas.
• Repair uneven floors: Check for cracks or raised edges in floors and repair them immediately. Uneven surfaces are one of the leading causes of trips in both indoor and outdoor workspaces.
• Keep walkways free of obstacles: Always ensure that walkways are clear of clutter, boxes, and loose cords. Regular checks help prevent tripping hazards in high-traffic areas.
• Reduce distractions: Encourage employees to stay alert and aware of their surroundings. Distractions can lead to accidents, especially in areas with a tripping hazard like machinery or tools.
• Use clear signage and markings: Mark changes in elevation, such as stairs or ramps, to lower the risk of tripping. Clear, visible markings help protect against trips in work areas with uneven surfaces.

Preventing Falls

• Provide fall protection: Install guardrails or use personal fall protection equipment in areas where employees work at heights. This helps reduce the risk of fall hazards and injuries in workplaces with elevated surfaces.
• Maintain clear footing on elevated surfaces: Make sure walkways, platforms, and other elevated areas are free from spills, debris, or loose materials. A clean, stable walking surface minimizes the chance of losing balance and falling.
• Promote proper posture and lifting techniques: Encourage safe lifting practices and proper body posture to avoid losing balance. This is crucial for reducing the likelihood of falls from sudden movements or improper lifting.
• Use proper ladders for the task: Select ladders that match the height and load requirements of the job, and make sure they’re in good condition before use. Using inappropriate or damaged ladders increases the risk of falls.
• Promote safety through toolbox talks: Regular safety meetings or toolbox talks ensure that employees are aware of fall risks and the importance of safety measures. These talks help reinforce safe practices and keep slip and fall prevention top of mind.

What Is the Best Way to Help Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls?

Preventing slips, trips, and falls in the workplace starts with having a solid floor safety plan. From what I’ve learned in safety compliance, the best approach is proactive—setting up systems to prevent accidents before they happen, rather than just reacting when something goes wrong. This plan should fit into the broader workplace safety strategy, ensuring all aspects of safety are covered.

A strong floor safety plan must also align with industry regulations and standards. OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2) requires employers to maintain safe walking surfaces. This means:

• The floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition.
• When wet processes are used, drainage must be maintained and, to the extent feasible, dry standing places, such as false floors, platforms, and mats, must be provided.

But OSHA regulations only get you part of the way there. You need a deeper understanding of how to choose materials, manage high-risk areas, and stay compliant long term. This is where NFSI (National Floor Safety Institute) is important.

A fundamental concept NFSI emphasizes is the coefficient of friction (COF), which measures the amount of grip a surface provides. The COF value of a floor directly influences how much traction people have when walking. Surfaces with lower COF values, particularly when wet, are prone to creating slip hazards.

The NFSI provides specific recommendations based on these metrics:

• High-traffic areas, like corridors or factory floors, require surfaces with a high COF to lessen the chances of slips.
• Wet areas, such as kitchens or restrooms, need floor materials that retain grip even when exposed to moisture. NFSI outlines which materials are ideal for such environments, as they take into account both wet and dry slip resistance.

Key Elements of a Floor Safety Plan

To effectively prevent slips, trips, and falls, a floor safety plan must include specific actions and checks. The plan should provide a clear, consistent framework to maintain safe floor conditions and mitigate risks. Here are the key elements of such a plan:

• Regular Floor Inspections and Maintenance Schedules: Floors need to be inspected regularly, especially in high-traffic areas. Maintenance schedules ensure that issues like cracks, loose tiles, or worn-out areas are repaired promptly to prevent accidents.
• Identifying and Marking Hazards Promptly: Hazards such as spills, wet spots, or objects in walkways must be marked immediately. Clear signage can help employees avoid potential slip, trip, and fall injuries until those hazards are addressed.
• Floor Cleaning Protocols: Spills should be cleaned up immediately, and cleaning procedures should be tailored to the type of flooring. Slip-resistant mats or floor treatment can be used in areas that are prone to spills or moisture.
• Floor Surface Treatment: For high-risk areas (like kitchens, restrooms, or warehouses), consider applying slip-resistant treatments or coatings to the floors. These can significantly improve traction and lessen the risk of slips.
• Emergency Action Plans: In case of a slip, trip, or fall, your plan should include steps for immediate response, such as ensuring first aid is provided and the incident is reported. Emergency plans help workers know what to do in case something goes wrong.
• Documentation and Reporting: Every inspection, maintenance schedule, and hazard identification should be documented. This creates a clear record of actions taken and can help identify patterns or recurring issues.

Floor Materials and Design Choices

The type of flooring you use should match the specific needs of each area in your workplace. For instance, high-traffic areas, wet environments, and spaces with heavy equipment all require different flooring solutions. Below are key considerations when choosing and maintaining safe floor surfaces.

• Use slip-resistant flooring in high-risk areas: For areas like kitchens, bathrooms, or warehouses, slip-resistant materials like textured vinyl, rubber, or treated wood provide better traction, especially when wet.
• Select durable materials for high-traffic areas: Floors in high-traffic zones should be made from durable materials like concrete, vinyl, or epoxy. These materials are easy to maintain and can handle the constant wear and tear of heavy foot traffic.
• Address transitions between different flooring types: When different flooring types meet, use smooth, level transitions to prevent tripping hazard. Beveled edges or trims can eliminate uneven surfaces and ensure a safe, level walking path.
• Consider the ergonomic impact of flooring: Flooring that reduces foot fatigue is essential for areas where workers stand for long periods. Ergonomic floors can help prevent accidents related to tiredness, such as slips or trips caused by lack of focus.
• Use the right cleaning methods for specific floor materials: Different types of floors require different cleaning and maintenance routines. For example, vinyl floors may need to be cleaned with non-abrasive cleaners, while rubber floors require specialized care to maintain their slip resistance.

Employee Training

Training employees on how to prevent slips, trips, and falls is one of the most effective ways to create a safer work environment. Proper training ensures employees can identify hazards, take preventive actions, and help lower the risk of slip and fall injuries. Here’s how to approach it:

• Hazard Identification: Employees should be taught to recognize a tripping hazard, such as uneven surfaces, wet floors, or objects in walkways. Identifying these hazards early allows workers to address them before they cause accidents.
• Proper Footwear: Training should emphasize the importance of wearing the right footwear for the work environment, like slip-resistant shoes. Wearing the correct footwear can significantly reduce the risk of slips and falls, especially in areas with moisture or debris.
• Safe Lifting Techniques: Workers must learn the proper way to lift, keeping their back straight and bending their knees. This helps prevent falls related to improper posture or muscle strain, which can lead to fall injuries.
• Spill Management: Employees should be trained on how to quickly clean up spills and mark the area with proper warning signs. Immediate action helps prevent slips and minimizes the risk of slip and fall injuries in high-risk areas.
• Reporting Hazards: Establish clear protocols for employees to report hazards like wet floors or uneven surfaces. Promptly reporting these issues allows management to address them before they cause slips, trips, and falls.

Can Warning Signs Change Behavior and Prevent Falls?

I remember a time at work when we had to handle uneven flooring in a high-traffic area. Even though we were aware of it, the area still presented a risk for trips and falls, especially when people weren’t paying full attention. That's when we decided to put up warning signs (similar to the above image) to draw attention to the issue.

As soon as those signs went up, I noticed a change. People started stepping around the area more carefully. It wasn’t that they didn’t know about the risk, but the warning signs acted as a visual reminder, encouraging everyone to be more mindful as they moved through that space. It didn’t take long before trips in that area decreased significantly.

That small step—adding warning signs—made a noticeable difference in behavior. It helped create a safer environment by keeping the potential tripping hazard in everyone’s mind and gave them that extra second to adjust their movements.

Warning signs can be one of the most effective tools in preventing slips, trips, and falls in the workplace, especially when used strategically. Here’s how you can make the most of them:

• Proper Placement of Signs: Place warning signs where workers are most likely to encounter hazards, such as areas with poor lighting or uneven flooring, which are among the most common cause of slips, trips, and falls. This ensures employees are aware of risks before they get too close.
• Simple, Clear Messaging: Warning signs should convey the danger in a straightforward manner. A clear message like “Slippery Surface” or “Uneven Flooring” will better catch the attention of workers than a sign filled with lengthy text.
• Regular Inspection and Maintenance: Warning signs should be checked regularly to make sure they remain visible and effective. This also ties into slip and fall prevention in the workplace, keeping workers constantly aware of common hazards, even when they might not be immediately visible.
• Combine with Training: Train employees on the significance of the warning signs and how to act when they encounter them. Proper training ensures that the signs lead to action and prevent falls by making employees more alert to potential risks.

What to Do in Case of Slip, Trip, or Fall?

In a study I found from Ohio’s construction industry, nearly 40% of reported slips, trips, and falls led to lost work time—many of them were linked to floor irregularities, slippery surfaces, and ladder use. Cases like these don’t just show how common these incidents are, but how quickly they can become serious. That’s why knowing exactly what to do in the moment matters just as much as preventing slips, trips, and falls in the workplace.

1. Ensure Safety and Immediate Assessment

First, make sure that the area is safe for both the injured person and others nearby. If there’s a tripping hazard or wet surface, address the issue immediately to prevent another incident. The priority is to secure the environment and avoid any additional injuries.

2. Check for Injuries

Assess the worker who has fallen for injuries, such as fractures and broken bones. If the fall is serious, or if the person is unable to move, refrain from moving them unless absolutely necessary. Checking for slip and fall injuries early on helps determine whether professional medical assistance is needed.

3. Call for Medical Assistance

In any case of slip, trip, or fall, if there’s any doubt about the severity of the injury, call for medical help. Even if the injury seems minor, it’s important to have it evaluated. Slip and fall prevention in the workplace includes knowing how to respond when an incident occurs—and ensuring proper care can prevent long-term issues.

4. Administer First Aid (if trained)

If you’re trained in first aid, assist the injured person as needed, whether that’s by helping them sit comfortably, controlling bleeding, or applying basic first aid. In many cases, providing immediate care can help avoid further complications and promote quicker recovery, aligning with efforts to minimize injuries in the workplace.

5. Report the Incident

Once the immediate danger has passed and the person receives proper care, report the incident according to company policy. Clearly document the cause of the fall, such as a spill, poor lighting, or an uneven surface, to help identify hazards and reduce the likelihood of future incidents.

6. Follow Up

After the incident, follow up with the injured worker. Check on their condition and ensure that any necessary accommodations are made as they recover. Use the slip, trips, and falls safety tips you’ve learned to review any potential risks in the area and make changes to avoid a repeat incident.

FAQs

Why are high-traffic areas more prone to slips, trips, and falls?

High-traffic areas are particularly susceptible to slips, trips, and falls due to increased wear and tear on floors. These areas often accumulate dirt, debris, or spills, creating slipping hazards. Regular maintenance, like cleaning up spills immediately and regular inspections, is key to preventing slips, trips, and falls in the workplace.

What is something you can do to minimize your risk of slipping at work?

To minimize your risk of slipping at work, wearing appropriate footwear with non-slip soles is crucial, especially on wet or oily surfaces. Additionally, being mindful of your surroundings and promptly reporting any slipping hazards can significantly reduce the chance of slip and fall injuries. Follow slip, trips, and falls safety tips and adhere to your workplace's safety guidelines.

What is the OSHA 6-foot rule?

The OSHA 6-foot rule mandates fall protection for workers who are exposed to the risk of fall hazards from heights of 6 feet or more in the construction industry. In general industry, fall protection is required when working at heights of 4 feet or more. This rule helps prevent serious injuries and fatalities related to falls, aligning with slip and fall prevention in the workplace.

Which equipment safety practice helps prevent trips, falls, and injuries?

Ensure that all tools and equipment are properly stored and that walkways are kept clear of obstacles. For example, using non-slip mats in areas prone to moisture can reduce slipping hazards, while proper ladders should always be used safely with stable footing and secure positioning. Regular inspections of all equipment are also important to identify any hazards early and maintain a safe working environment.

What is the difference between fall protection and fall prevention?

Fall prevention involves eliminating hazards to prevent a fall from occurring, such as using non-slip flooring or installing guardrails. Fall protection, on the other hand, is the use of equipment to catch a person if they fall, such as safety harnesses or nets. Both are crucial for preventing slips, trips, and falls in the workplace and reducing injuries.