No one wants to see employees hurt on the job, especially if an accident was preventable. Unfortunately, slips, trips and falls can be major and costly accidents in the workplace.
Nearly 20 percent of the workers’ compensation claims filed last year with Erie Insurance were due to slips and falls. About one-third missed work for a significant time because of their injuries, which can increase the cost of claims dramatically.
With a proper safety plan in place, you could avoid accidents or reduce the severity of accidents, decrease an injured employees’ time away from work and avoid productivity drops. You could also keep your costs in check.
What are the common causes of slips, trips, falls?
Slips, trips and falls can occur on a variety of walking surfaces as well as on ramps and stairways. Some of the major hazards associated with these accidents can include:
- Slippery, broken or uneven surfaces
- Inadequate spill cleanup
- Poor drainage
- Weather conditions
- Loose rugs or wrinkled carpet
- Clutter, poor lighting or obstructed views
8-question checklist for evaluating floor safety
So are the floors at your business safe? To help you find out, answer yes or no to the following questions, developed from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.
- Has your organization selected a floor material that is appropriate for the environment in which it will be used?
- Are the adjacent walking surfaces in your business similar?
- Does your business have a program for regularly cleaning its floors? Is your floor cleaner certified by the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI)?
- Does your business use different mops for cleaning and disinfecting?
- Are your floors treated with a high-traction finish?
- Does your organization strip an old finish following the manufacturer’s instructions before applying a new one?
- Does your organization require employees to wear appropriate footwear?
- Does your organization use proper warning signs for slip/trip/fall hazards?
Based on your answers to these questions, what are opportunities for improvement? What actions do you need to take?
Don’t slip up
Erie Insurance’s staff of risk control consultants can help you identify slip, trip and fall exposures and solutions to help prevent them. Read more about the risk control services that ERIE offers or ask your local Erie Insurance Agent about how to develop a customized risk control plan for your business.
