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Slips, trips and falls, specifically those on the same level. I am sure we have all heard of these before, and indeed, I am sure many of you reading this have experienced at least one of these things yourself. Either you have tripped over a cable, slipped on some water whilst getting into and/or out of the bath or shower, or fallen onto a bed or sofa.
For the rest of the article, I will simply be writing slips, trips and falls. It is important to note that we are only discussing falls ‘on the same level’ here. Falls from a height is a totally separate issue that needs a different discussion.
In terms of workplace incidents and issues, these occurrences do not really seem to get the “shout out loud” attention in the same way as fires, explosions and falls from height. This is mainly due to two reasons:
- The outcome of slips, trips and falls does not result in fatality as often as exposure to other hazards, so we do not have to worry too much about them.
- Slips, trips and falls are often seemingly caused by simple things needing simple solutions, so we do not have to worry too much about them.
Where things go wrong is the complacent attitude to the two things we have mentioned above. People CAN be killed in a slip, trip or fall incident. Slip, trip and fall hazards may often need multiple controls to deal with them; or the wrong controls are chosen, as the hazards are not well understood by the people dealing with them; or again, they are complacent about the potential consequences they can cause. In today’s article, we will look at some of the misconceptions around these issues, and some of the things to consider when dealing with them.
A Probable Cause
There are many hazards that can cause or contribute to a slip, trip or fall issue. These include, but are not limited to, cables trailing across various walkways, floors and other parts of site; other obstacles on floors such as boxes and items of work equipment; damaged flooring and walking surfaces; persons rushing around the workplace and/or not focusing on where they are going (e.g. use of mobile phones whilst walking). The list is endless.
Often, the reason that these hazards are not dealt with effectively is the outcome.
Let us imagine a typical workplace scenario. We wish to travel to an office on the level above where we are currently working. Whilst walking up these stairs, we kick a damaged step and ALMOST fall over, but with quick reflexes we manage to grab the handrail to stop ourselves falling. A very common reaction to this type of situation is simply “Phew! That was lucky. I am glad nothing happened there”. Then we almost instantly dismiss the issue and go about our day. This is a classic example of a ‘near miss’.
“if these issues are not addressed and dealt with, then someone else can be affected, but in a much more serious way”
A Case for Hit or Miss
The definition of a near miss can be: “An unplanned, unwanted event that did not result in loss, harm or injury, but it should have done.”
The importance of the above situation and the reaction to it cannot be understated, because if these issues are not addressed and dealt with, then someone else can be affected, but this time in a much more serious way. For example, sometime after the ‘near miss’ that we experienced earlier, our colleague unfortunately kicks the same damaged step, but their reflexes are not as quick as ours. They cannot grab the handrail in time, and therefore cannot stop themselves falling. They land on the stairs, their arm awkwardly twisting underneath them. This ends up with our colleague requiring hospital treatment and several weeks off work due to a double fracture. This is an ‘incident’.
The definition of an incident can be given as: “An unplanned, unwanted event that does result in some type of loss, harm or injury.”
Had we gone through the process of reporting the initial near miss ourselves, we could have identified the possible hazards posed by the damaged step. We could then have had it repaired, reducing the chances of the incident occurring, if not preventing it.
Of course, I am not saying we have to shut down the entirety of our worksite to repair one step. My point, however, is that these slip, trip and fall hazards should be assessed and controlled using the same thought processes as any other hazards in the workplace, and they should not be dismissed as something trivial. Let us take a look at some of the general areas to consider when dealing with these issues.
Eliminate the Problem
Firstly, can we eliminate the problem from our organisation altogether? Examples of doing this could include:
- Using battery operated equipment so there are no more cables and plugs scattered haphazardly around the workplace.
- Using Elevators/Lifts to go up and down multi-level buildings, rather than using stairs, would result in no risk of kicking, or slipping on, stairs.
- Fixing a leaking pipe joint, rather than just mopping a wet floor all of the time, would mean there is no need to mop the floor at all. Water cannot get to the floor, as it is contained within the pipe (where it should be).
Eliminating the hazard is always the most effective solution, as the risk of things going wrong is totally removed.
Reduce the Risk
If we cannot get rid of our problem, can we at least reduce our risk?
When doing Risk Assessments, we often use the term ALARP (which is an acronym for As Low As Reasonably Practicable). In other words, if we cannot rid ourselves of the problem, let us at least make it “not so bad”. We can do this by reducing the chance of it going wrong, reducing the harm that would occur, or both of these things. Examples of this could be:
- Putting warning tape on edges of steps.
- Only using cables that need to be long enough for the work (without having excess) and doing the work as close to an available plug/power socket as possible.
- Having policies in place such as asking people to hold handrails when using stairs.
- Limiting the amount of material (boxes, paper, tools, etc.) that people can carry at one time.
- Regular inspection and maintenance of all walking surfaces.
- Good housekeeping to avoid materials being in doorways, on walking surfaces, and so on.
Again, whilst these things do not necessarily eliminate these issues, they do help contribute to reducing our risk to ALARP.
Be Finicky about Footwear
Footwear is often another seemingly simple area that can assist us with reducing the frequency and severity of our slip, trip and fall issues, yet it is often something that people do not consider properly. There are many factors to assess and consider. Footwear that is suitable for one workplace may not be right at all for another, seemingly very similar, workplace.
Purchase for purpose
Start by thinking about whether the footwear is the correct type for the task being conducted. Ballet shoes are going to have no protective effect against welding sparks (and would actually only make things worse due to the flammable material they are made from), whilst steel toe-capped safety boots are not appropriate at all for diving operations.
So, make sure you purchase and use the footwear that is designed for the specific job/task/environment you are looking at. Perhaps the footwear is made of heat resistant material to prevent issues with sparks and fire, great for hot work operations. Maybe the footwear has a non-slip sole, offering greater resistance to slip incidents when working on wet surfaces, or surfaces likely to see spills. Perhaps the footwear incorporates a “no-lace” design, using Velcro or magnetised strapping instead. There is no way someone can trip over an untied shoelace with this, as there are no shoelaces to cause an issue in the first place.
Quality over cost
The quality of both the materials and the manufacture of footwear is also another consideration (and that goes for anything, not just footwear). Your procurement teams may look great at controlling costs by purchasing footwear at half-price, but this would present a false picture to your workplace. It will actually cost you far more money in the long run, as you are constantly buying more and more of the footwear at that price, because they only last for a quarter of the time that the slightly more expensive footwear does.
As an example, I remember one experience where a company were purchasing work boots for roughly $15 a pair. They were of such poor quality, however, that they were literally falling apart within the first hour of use (you could literally follow someone by following the trail of rubber from the chunks of the sole being left behind by them). Compare that situation to a pair of similar work boots I bought myself for $60, that lasted me nearly 6 years. This was despite the fact that I was wearing them 8 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week, in often harsh working conditions (mine sites, deserts, etc.). It is easy to say, but cost should not always be the over-arching factor in decision making, particularly when it comes to safety.
Sizes that fit
There can also be different shoe size scales for different regions of the world. As an example, a size 8 shoe in the US is not going to be the same dimensions as a size 8 shoe in the UK. This can create a problem, because if you accidentally use the wrong scale of shoe, you are going to get the wrong size of shoe.
Fortunately, we can make use of mankind’s best and worst invention, the internet. A quick google search can provide you with several, easy-to-use shoe size conversion charts, but you can also check the labels in the footwear itself. They will often specify to you the ‘scale system’ that they use, for example UK 8, EU 39, and so on. If you are placing a large order with a supplier or manufacturer, you could of course ask them directly as well.
Speaking of manufacturers, there are also differences between the manufacturers, not just in terms of quality, price and materials, but also in the way that they make footwear. Due to this, you should always bear in mind that just because a label on a shoe from one manufacturer says that it is a size 8, does not necessarily mean that it would be the same fit as a size 8 shoe from a different manufacturer, even if they were supposedly using the same shoe size scale system.
Consider comfort
The comfort of the wearer/user is also another key consideration not to be dismissed. Workers (and others) are not going to want to use footwear that is too tight, and results in painfully squeezing their feet and toes, or that gives them sores and blisters.
It is true that the opposite can also be just as much of a problem. Footwear that is too loose so that it flops around like giant clown shoes will result in people becoming frustrated and stressed at having to constantly re-adjust them all the time. Even worse, the footwear may simply not stay on their feet at all.
“working with your employees and conducting ‘fit-testing’ is a key strategy to help alleviate some of these issues”
Embrace ergonomics
You also have to consider the ergonomic aspects of the human body. The fact is that not only do people have different sizes of feet, but feet can also be different shapes as well. Some people have longer toes, for example, or wider heels. So, working with your employees and conducting ‘fit-testing’ is a key strategy to help alleviate some of these issues. They can give you key feedback on what works and what does not. At the end of the day, they are the ones who will use them all of the time, so listening to their feedback will make a happy workplace. A workplace with good morale is also often a safe and productive one. A win-win for everyone involved.
Parting Thoughts
I hope today’s article has planted a few seeds of thought you may not otherwise have had when considering how to deal with slips, trips and falls in your organisation. As always, consider the legal requirements of your local jurisdiction, as well as any contractual requirements or industrial standards that apply to your situation. Where any doubt or concern exists, seek help from manufacturers, suppliers, enforcing authorities, and consultants. Slips, trips and falls; they’re not as simple as they seem.
