Avoiding Slips and Trips in the Workplace
Slips and trips are responsible for nearly 40% of all serious accidents in the workplace.The good news about this is that according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) around 50% of slips and trips can be prevented. Here’s our guide to simple, effective ways to reducing risks.
Good cleaning and care of floors
Make sure flooring is clean, grease-free and dry with good cleaning procedures Also check that it is in good condition and replace any damaged or worn areas.
Also think about areas that are likely to get wet through spillages, for example. Anti-slip flooring in some spaces is also a good option. It is worth bearing in mind with anti-slip flooring that workers who are walking or standing on this often may find insoles helpful as it stops the foot from sliding suddenly inside the footwear when the anti-slip material suddenly stops the base of the shoe from moving.
Signage for wet floors.
Most slips happen on wet floors, a simple safety sign after mopping can prevent a nasty and costly trip. Cones such as this Wet Floor warning cone are useful
You can see more on page 66 of our Safety Signage brochure: http://www.easyflip.co.uk/cisafety
Consider lighting
Make sure areas are well-lit, particularly areas where there are slopes or steps.
Remove trip hazards
Ensuring walkways are clear and items are not placed carelessly where people walk is important. Marking walkways is helpful as is training staff to keep these areas clear at all times.
You can find useful signage and marking equipment in our Safety Signage brochure: http://www.easyflip.co.uk/cisafety
Provide good safety footwear
In some areas, where floors are slippery due to working conditions, antislip footwear is helpful and it is important to supply this to employees if it is necessary to keep them safe in working conditions that have been identified in your risk assessment.
Key components to look for in footwear are comfort, flexibility and traction. Always ensure that footwear fits well and feet are not cramped or moving backwards and forwards. Safety footwear should have a heel that has a broad base and be no higher than 4cm. If worn for long stretches of time, they should be no more than 2cm in height.
Also check traction: Is there a good tread or groove in the sole pattern and is it made from anti-slip material? Deeper grooves will be useful in wet or muddy conditions and good grip is especially important if you are using ladders or steps often.
Our Dunlop RigPRO Purofort Unlined rigger boo, for example, has a recently upgraded slip-resistant and antistatic sole which gives an excellent grip on the most slippery surfaces, reducing the risk of falling hazards.
Our Monti Techshell Safety trainers are also slip-resistant and are thoroughly tested to ensure they meet safety rating of SRC which means they have been tested on ceramic tile wetted with dilute soap solution and also on smooth steel with glycerol.
Find out more about finding slip-resistant footwear in this guide by the HSE: https://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/footprocure.htm
Get staff involved
If you haven’t already done so, survey staff to ask them for any slip or trip hazards they have identified on the premises and listen to any suggestions they have for reducing risks, and also about PPE requirements and current safety practices.
Our sales team are also happy to discuss products and measures that can help to reduce the risk of slips and trips in your workplace. Contact us at sales@cisafety.com or call 01726 74264.