Accidents can happen anywhere, especially in the workplace. Among the most common accidents are slips, trips, and falls. They could occur in any industry, from manufacturing to finance, when a work area isn't optimized for safety.
Slips and falls are no laughing matter. While most instances are more of an inconvenience, others may be fatal. In 2020, 805 workers succumbed to falls, while 211,640 suffered severe workplace injuries. Thus, it's crucial to avoid these common hazards in the workplace. (1)
If you're a CEO, your team's safety should also be one of your top priorities. Their well-being directly impacts your business processes. Here's how to prevent slips and falls in the workplace effectively.
Inspect High Traffic Areas Regularly
Any area of your workplace where people frequently gather is more prone to accidents. Walking surfaces must be even and free from exposed wires, cracks, and spills. Cracks, unevenness, and slippery surfaces are the most common causes of slips, trips, and falls at the workplace.
Routine inspections are a key step in how to prevent slips and falls in the workplace. They also help you check if your structure follows local safety standards and building codes. Clean up spills and set aside wires as you see them. However, seek a contractor if you spot hazardous conditions that need immediate professional attention.
If anyone in your team slips and falls at work, they have the right to file a claim. They can hire a trusted trip hazard attorney to represent them. A legal expert can help them gather relevant evidence and prove negligence and liability.
If you're liable for slip-and-fall injuries, you must compensate the victim for the time lost and money spent on their medical bills and lawyer's fees. To prevent the lengthy and costly process of a slip-and-fall suit, perform a regular risk assessment and maintain every walkable section safe at all times.
Ensure Areas Are Well-Lit
Another reason people get caught in job site accidents may be poor lighting. In areas that are too dim, people could trip in the workplace. Poor lighting becomes especially worse in areas with changing walking surface levels.
As a CEO, you must ensure that every room has proper lighting. Focus on hallways, stairways, ramps, and parking areas. If you see burnt-out bulbs, replace them promptly.
Add Safety Measures to Stairways
A bad fall in the workplace may also occur in stairways. The levels change at every step, and some stair designs make the steps too narrow.
Installing stable handrails is one of the best ways to keep your workplace's stairs safe. For wide stairways, consider having steps designed with anti-slip properties. This way, if you're too far from the landing, you're less likely to slip from a step and get hurt.
Also, keep the stairs free from spills and clutter at all times. A bit of trash or a tiny puddle can be a trip hazard and may lead to costly workplace injuries.
Encourage Regular Break Times
Even if you maintain safe working areas and clean floors, fatigue could cause a fall or slip in the workplace. People can get tired quickly in occupations requiring manual labor. Consider providing a dedicated rest area for employees to take a quick breather when exhausted.
Allow them to stretch and rest when necessary. Getting ample rest, even a quick nap between shifts, may improve their performance and mental health. A clear, well-rested mind is also more likely to stay alert and pick up signs of potential accidents.
If possible, give your team sensible work hours. Studies show that employees with irregular shifts and lacking access to fatigue management resources are at higher risk of fatigue. Shortening work hours or letting them work during the day instead of at night may help reduce workplace slips, trips, and falls. (2)
Provide Proper and Sensible Footwear for Work
Jobs involving manual labor often require a particular uniform. A uniform could help employees get themselves in the zone and behave cautiously.
Some uniform pieces you can provide to prevent slips and falls include shoes with slip-resistant soles. Several safety footwear designs already have this feature.
To further improve workplace safety, consider installing slip-resistant flooring in high-traffic or moisture-prone areas. Anti-slip mats are excellent additions in kitchens and any work involving liquids. So, even if employees wear regular office shoes, there's a smaller chance of getting into a slip-and-fall accident.
Make Time for Team Safety Training
Part of knowing how to prevent slips and falls in the workplace includes safety practices education. Putting all the effort into keeping your work areas safe will be in vain if your team can't uphold it.
Safety awareness can help everyone at work be mindful of what they're doing and where they're going. It could also encourage active employee participation and prompt incident reports instead of leaving issues unaddressed.
A safety culture at work could help reduce the number of accidents that occur in the workplace. One study highlighted that safety training, especially in high-risk industries, led to improved motivation to act safely. It also reported a stronger sense that their workplace culture supported safety. (3)
Wrapping Up
Every CEO should learn how to prevent slips and falls in the workplace. This keeps every employee safe from physical harm at work and saves money from avoidable damages. Routine inspections let you know what needs to be addressed, while proactive measures prevent accidents.
Remember to teach your whole team crucial safety procedures, too. When everyone values safety as much as their jobs, the workplace becomes much safer.
References
- "About Falls in the Workplace," Source: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/falls/about/index.html
- "Work-related fatigue: A hazard for workers experiencing disproportionate occupational risks," Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9325913/
- "The effects of industry risk level on safety training outcomes: A meta-analysis of intervention studies," Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925753521004343
