Employee safety is one of the most important factors to take into account when assessing different workplaces.
Some of the most common non-fatal causes of workplace injuries are slips, trips, and falls, which accounted for 32% of injuries (2022/23).
Slips, trips, and falls can occur in any workplace, from office buildings and retail stores to construction sites and manufacturing facilities.
These accidents often result from a combination of environmental factors and human behaviour.
Read on to learn more about these common causes of workplace injuries and how these can be prevented.
What common causes of workplace injuries can contribute to slips, trips, and falls?
1. Wet or slippery surfaces:
Spills, leaks and wet weather conditions can create slippery surfaces that increase the risk of slips and falls.
2. Uneven or cluttered walkways:
Objects left in walkways, uneven flooring, and inadequate lighting, reducing vision, can all contribute to trips and falls.
3. Poor housekeeping:
Failure to clean up spills promptly, cluttered work areas, and neglected maintenance can create hazardous conditions.
4. Lack of proper footwear:
Inappropriate footwear or worn-out shoes with inadequate grip can increase the risk of slipping and falling.
5. Lack of safety equipment:
Failure to provide or use appropriate safety equipment, such as handrails, guardrails, and fall protection gear, can lead to falls from heights.
6. The solution to these accidents…
Preventing slips, trips, and falls requires a proactive approach that addresses both environmental hazards and employee behaviour.
Here are some effective strategies for preventing these common causes of workplace injuries:
1. Effective training
Especially within the workplace, training stands out as one of the paramount elements in reducing workplace accidents.
Teaching and demonstrating the essential skills and knowledge to all employees through effective training equips them to mitigate workplace hazards effectively.
Alongside this, training must be regularly updated to reinforce this knowledge, particularly with repetitive tasks.
Keeping things refreshed means it keeps individuals engaged and more likely to remember and take on these training skills to help create a safer work environment.
2. Clear safety signage
Employers must show clear safety signs where there’s an obvious risk that cannot be mitigated in other ways.
It’s important to maintain these signs to uphold their purpose consistently, and they should be positioned well for optimal visibility.
The colour scheme of each sign must correspond to its intended message. For instance, red signs are for prohibitions, blue signifies mandatory actions, and so on.
3. Classify your zones
Another way to reduce the causes of workplace injuries is zoning your workspace, which is especially beneficial for industries operating in hazardous areas.
If there is any risk of explosives, the space must comply with ATEX zone classifications.
Zones are crucial in any warehouse setting to enhance efficiency and appropriately manage hazards and risks.
Regular risk assessments are necessary to accurately classify and manage these zones.
4. Anti-slip matting
Slips, trips, and falls are the most frequent workplace injuries, anti-slip matting, anti-slip tape, and stair treads can help prevent these incidents.
Additionally, proper entrance matting before you even enter the office helps to maintain a clean and safe working environment by reducing the likelihood of water or mud being tracked indoors.
5. Maintain a tidy work area
Having a spill-cleaning kit is essential for promptly managing spills and leaks.
Alongside this, you can help reduce common workplace accidents by removing obstacles, covering cables, marking uneven surfaces, and using shadow boards to organise and store equipment.
It’s clear that there are so many ways to prevent common causes of workplace injuries, and by using some of these solutions, your business can strive towards a safer working environment for all.
