Wiping Out Slips, Trips, & Falls Accidents Within the MACS-SIG Group

Slips, trips, and falls accidents are the most common types of accidents within the MACS-SIG group. Since January 1, 2000, 554 employees of the Group have suffered the pain and suffering of a slip, trip and fall-type accident. In addition these accidents are expensive, costing the Group in excess of $1,823,000 in workers compensation claims experience for the same period.

Preventing these injuries doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. In most cases, a consistent evaluation of walking areas, coupled with diligent housekeeping and training, can help keep everyone on their feet.

Causes of Slips, Trips, and Falls

Slips are the result of a loss of friction between a person's footwear and the walking surface. The most common causes are wearing inappropriate footwear for the environment and wet and/or slippery surfaces.

With the myriads of flooring materials on which they work, MACS-SIG employees are likely to experience a variety of walking surfaces throughout the day. Their duties also vary. Where an office worker may be able to wear leather-soled dress shoes, it is not advisable resident staff workers to wear loose fitting or sandal-type shoes. No single shoe or boot will fit all situations. Plus, even specifically designated "slip-resistant" footwear will wear out over time, making it a potential slip hazard.

Normally safe floor surfaces can become hazardous when anything--liquid or solid--is spilled or sprayed on them; or when water, salt, or dirt is tracked into the building as a result of adverse weather conditions. Sugar spilled onto a hardwood floor at the coffee island can be as slippery to an employee wearing improper footwear or shoes with smooth soles as an ice patch is to anyone walking on a sidewalk.

Trips occur when an employee's foot strikes an obstacle in a walkway. The obstacle could be uneven pavement, flooring tiles or rug; or it could be an object, such as the corner of a box or cart that wasn't tucked back into its storage area, a broom handle, loose packaging materials, or a tool that wasn't put back into the toolbox after use.

People tend to trip because they are diverted from the task of walking. They could be carrying something that obstructs their view, talking to someone else, or just daydreaming. New, unfamiliar footwear--especially shoes with thick or heavy soles--also can cause a person to trip or stumble.

Regular floor maintenance and housekeeping are key components in helping prevent trip hazards. Uneven flooring should be well marked and replaced or repaired as soon as possible. Housekeeping procedures can be incorporated into safety training so that all employees are aware of common hazards.

Falls to the same level are a result of either a slip or trip and occur when a person loses his center of gravity. By minimizing slip and trip hazards, falls should likewise decrease.

Identifying and Fixing Problem Areas

OSHA requires employers to keep work areas clean and safe: "The floor of every work room shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition..." (29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2)). However, before employees can be expected to buy into "another safety program", they need to know that agency management is taking the steps needed to minimize any known hazards.

The Facility Walk-Through

Agency management should walk through their various sites on a regular basis, starting in parking areas. Is the pavement in the parking lot mostly level? Are sidewalks even? Is concrete brushed to help minimize slipping? Where practical, mark tripping hazards with brightly colored paint to make them more visible. Consider having uneven surfaces ground, texturized, or re-paved to make them level and less slip-and trip-prone.

Are entrance mats used inside and outside of all residences, day-care facilities, work centers and office entrances? Not only do entrance mats help cut down on the amount of dirt dragged into a building, but good matting also helps absorb rainwater and snow that is tracked in, helping to keep floors dry and safer. A general rule for entrance matting is that it should be long enough for someone to take three to four steps on it before stepping off the mat. Make sure the matting is in good condition with no curling at the edges. Check the backing to make sure it securely hugs the floor and doesn't bunch up when doors are opened or people walk across it.

Don't make matters worse by overlooking the obvious. Sometimes you pass over a potential hazard everyday without ever recognizing it. Be aware of your surroundings and take immediate action when you see a problem.

Common areas, such as washrooms, cafeterias, work centers, and break rooms, should also be inspected for floor safety. Are paper towels and cleanup materials readily available for small food or drink spills? Are trashcans large enough to accommodate waste volumes? Are these areas maintained or inspected on a regular basis? Are the cleaners used to clean the floors in these areas specifically formulated to keep that particular flooring safe and non-slip? A floor cleaner that works great on concrete may make a linoleum floor slippery, or vice versa. Check with suppliers or janitorial service contractors to make sure the correct products are being used for each type of flooring in the facility.

Storage areas are other common spaces that often go unchecked. Is there adequate storage space to accommodate all of the goods in that area, or are items routinely left on the floor or in aisle ways? Re-arranging shelving or designating more space for storage, when possible, will help prevent trips in these areas.

During the facility walk-through, note the lighting conditions in all areas. Dim lighting in hallways, work areas can stairwells hide spills or uneven surfaces and contribute to slip-and-fall injuries. Additional lighting or higher-voltage bulbs can help correct these situations.

In work areas, are floors generally wet or dry? Leaky plumbing can cause work areas to become very slippery. Non-slip floor paints, grease-resistant rubber matting that raises workers off the floor surface, and absorbents can be used to help keep walking surfaces safer. If absorbents are used, consider replacing loose absorbents, such as clay, with mats or socks. Loose absorbents are labor intensive and, when left on the floor throughout the day, get tracked to other areas--carrying liquids with them that can be re-deposited on otherwise clean floors, creating slip hazards in other areas.

For areas where slip hazards are routine, stock absorbents nearby to encourage quick clean up.

Checking Footwear

After checking all physical areas of a facility, perform a footwear check. What kind of footwear are employees wearing? Has the agency developed a policy regarding floor safety and proper footwear for each area of the facility, and, most importantly, is the policy consistently enforced?

Consider creating a team consisting of members from all various sites when developing or modifying floor care or footwear policies. Having input from employees from different areas will help ensure all hazards are covered and ensure their support of the policy.

Assisting Consumers

Working with consumers, especially in tight or cramped areas, can sometimes lead to slip, trip and fall-type accidents. Employees always need to be aware of their own body placement in relation to the position of the consumer. If the area where they are assisting the consumer is cramped, all unnecessary items should be removed and extra caution paid to ambient surroundings.

Playing it Safe

After problem areas have been identified and fixed and procedures have been developed, everyone needs to be trained. Show them pictures of common "problem areas" and teach them how to resolve problems.

• Take employees on a tour of the facility and point out the locations of spill response materials, brooms, barricades, and any other tool that can be used to keep floors safe. Encourage employees to identify and report hazards so they can be corrected.
• Also consider having a chiropractor or other health care professional discuss the dynamics of falls. As funny as it may sound, many such professionals actually can teach people how to fall properly to minimize injury.
• Instruct employees to use lifts or other such equipment when transporting or assisting larger consumers so they will have full view of walking surfaces. If this is not feasible, they should consider a buddy system so the person assisting the client can be alerted to slip, trip, and fall hazards.
• Allowing ample time in everyone's schedule for routine cleanup and maintenance will also help ensure areas stay clean and safe.

By taking the time to correct known hazards and training everyone to be aware of walking conditions, employees and management of MACS-SIG Group agencies can work together to significantly reduce slip, trip and fall-type injuries in all areas of their organizations.