There is something about tripping and slipping that makes other people laugh. Even those who consider themselves sympathetic can’t deny they laughed when they saw it in a movie or their favorite cartoon.
Whether it’s just because the sudden loss of control makes people act in a funny way or it also has something to do with irrational feeling of relief we weren’t the ones that slipped, most people will agree that it is wrong to laugh in these cases.
Tripping and slipping can be a serious thing. As a matter of fact, they are counted among the most common reasons of injuries at work.
At Alsco, experts in the field of work safety work hard to find the best way to prevent this type of incidents.
Numbers say that every year millions of people suffer injury or get sick at work, and the three groups which are at exposed to biggest risk are manual workers, drivers and operators of machinery and service workers.
Fifteen percent of those injuries happen by falling on the same level, which includes incidents caused by tripping and slipping.
In order to minimise those incidents, or even completely eliminate them from a workplace, there is a number of steps which can be made.
We assembled two lists which can be really helpful starting points for dealing with tripping and slipping in your company.
5 Steps To Minimise Tripping
- Where flooring type changes suddenly (like concrete to carpeting), ensure the levels are evenly matched. With carpets or tiling, make sure the edges are secured to prevent dog-earing or warping.Keep working areas, aisles and corridors clear of items so there is nothing to trip over. Provide separate storage areas for boxes, tools and equipment. Ensure cabling is neatly tucked way. Carry out clean-ups regularly.
- Keep your workers aware. Many people trip when they are not paying attention or are distracted. So, use visual aids in high risk areas (storeroom), on stairs and remind your staff to do their part.
- Reduce the need for cabling by installing extra power sockets in more convenient places. Where cabling must cross traffic routes, place them overhead rather than across the floor.
- Keep the floor surface as consistent as possible, so cover floor power sockets, remove ridges and flatten inclines (if possible).
5 Steps To Minimise Slipping
- Invest in special work area matting. These are designed to resist oils and water so workers standing on them won’t slip while working.
- Be sure to regularly service any machinery to reduce the chances of leakage. You could also add containers to capture any condensation and spills.
- Use water absorbent floor mats at all entrance areas to soak up any dripping rainwater from clothing and umbrellas. These are designed to handle large volumes of traffic and can be easily laundered and replaced by your supply company.
- Make sure there is easy access to cleaning-up equipment. These include mops, cloths, absorbent paper for oil substances, and portable ‘Caution’ signs.
- Designate areas for wet umbrellas and overcoats to be kept, but ensure they’re away from busy traffic routes. Keeping them close to the entrance minimises the potential wet area created.
More To Do
It goes without saying that even if you manage to act on each of the above steps, you won’t manage to entirely remove the risk of tripping and slipping. There are so many factors that come into play every day that it is impossible to take them all into consideration.
However, there is more that you can do if you are really committed to solving this problem. If you adopt new, safer working procedures, the result will definitely be a significant improvement in overall safety of your employees.
This is not an easy undertaking. It takes a lot of time to complete and you will likely need to appoint more than one person to deal with it over time, control the execution and oversee the progress.
Alsco offers a number of products which are designed to help with this issue. One of the most useful products in Alsco’s portfolio is the safety mat, which can be placed in the most dangerous areas and help avert incidents. Alsco’s mats are also extremely efficient in preserving flooring and eliminating the need for frequent floor maintenance.
The best thing about Alsco’s mats is that they are completely free to try for two-weeks which lets you test their efficiency at no cost. We are sure you will want to keep them!
Photo courtesy of Flickr Images by SmartSign
