Slip, Trips, and Falls (for Manufacturing)

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Which among these can cause a slip? There may be more than one correct answer.

Low-friction Floors Some floors are slippery either because the surface is naturally smooth or they are polished to maintain a clean appearance. If you walk around tiled floors or polished concrete, be extra careful and make sure you are wearing high-traction shoes like sneakers or rubber boots.

Wet, Greasy, Dusty Floors Water, oil, grease or any liquid can make a floor slippery. But did you know that fine dust can do the same thing? If you work in an area that is prone to spills or extremely fine particles that litter the floor, you should have spill kits, vacuum cleaners, and anti-slip boots.

Icy Walkways Walkways, especially ones located outdoors, can become very slippery when a thin layer of ice develops on the surface. You might slip even before you start work. So in those colder months, wear winter boots since their soles are specially designed to grab onto those icy walkways.

Wrong/substandard Footwear Are you wearing the recommended footwear for the area you’re working in? Company-provided sneakers are often used in general production, while wet rooms often require the use of rubber boots. Steel-toe boots are used in manufacturing areas where heavy tools and materials can drop to your feet. If you are unsure, better check the PPE requirements for your work area. If the soles are already smooth or worn down, you can ask for a new pair.

Flying Carpets Fabric rugs and mats can slip easily on a marble, wooden or polished flooring. Secure them on the floor surface or choose an anti-slip mat that is made of rubber.

TRIP HAZARDS Electrical cables Littered tools and equipment Loose mats Chips on the floor's surface All of these can cause fatal and non-fatal injuries from a trip accident.

Increased awareness keeps you safer. The more observant and aware you are about the sources of danger in your environment, the better you will be at dodging them.

It's good to develop a habit of regularly checking for potential hazards. This applies to any type of accident risk other than slips, trips and falls.

Wrapping up Your Employer's Responsibilities It is the duty of your employer to identify and eliminate all possible sources of accidents in your workplace. Your Responsibility As an employee, you should report immediately if you see these hazards anywhere on our company premises, or if experienced any accidents or near misses. By reporting hazards, we are able to practice a safety culture of appropriate prevention and response.

Good housekeeping Slip, trip and fall prevention can be as simple as keeping the workplace clean.

Mark wet areas and cleaned up spills quickly

Stored away tools and equipment, if not in use.

Keep work areas and walkways free from dirt, dust, spill or any clutter.

Harness or cover electrical cords and cables.

Stairs and Ladder Safety *Stairs and ladders are part and parcel of manufacturing work so the risk of falling from them is also quite high. * To prevent stair and ladder accidents, remember the following tips: Check the ladder for any defect before using it. Don’t work alone. Ask for assistance from a coworker. Maintain three points of contact at all times. Use ladders for quick access, not for long periods of work. Hold the handrails when using the stairs. Make sure you can see the steps when going up or down.

Slip-resistant footwear Use company-provided footwear and replace them regularly or when you spot any damage. Use anti-slip rubber boots when working in wet areas and spiked boots if you are working outside (for example, in the loading docks). Keep them in good condition by wearing them only within company premises.

PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE The workplace can be a dangerous place especially when you’re in a rush. If you’re really in a hurry, walk briskly but never run. Don't take shortcuts and avoid playful actions while on duty.

Incident Reporting Report accidents, near misses and any potential source of danger like damaged floor mats, chipped tiles, loose guardrails etc.

Risk assessment Management of any risk starts with a careful evaluation of existing risks and hazards within your organization.

It's not a one-time activity. Risk assessment is a continuous process. Aside from your annual inspection, managers and supervisors should regularly inspect work areas and check for potential hazards at the start of the day.

Identify then eliminate. Once hazards are identified, they should be corrected immediately.

Slip-resistant footwear You should provide the right type of footwear for your employees and these should be replaced regularly, or when damaged.

Spill Management All employees should be trained to put up signage when they spot a wet area or spillage. They should also know where cleaning tools and spill kits are stored so they can dry the floor as soon as possible.

Housekeeping Create a culture of good housekeeping by training your employees to remove clutter in their work area and to organize their tools. Provide storage areas so that objects are not left in places where they can cause trips.

Reporting Do your employees know who to inform and how to report an accident or near-miss? Review this procedure with your team and encourage them to identify and report hazards.

Have Toolbox Talks A toolbox talk is a short and less formal way of providing training to your team. This is conducted by a subject-matter expert and employees learn from relatable examples and demonstrations. Create a culture of safety by doing slip, trip, and fall training in your next toolbox talk.