Don’t Slip. Don’t Trip. Don’t Fall.

by Janet Keyes, CIH

When you walk through your shop, how many times do you need to step over a hose, a cord or a car part? How often do you need to step around a hole? Walk carefully because of an oil spill or water?

If you navigate those successfully, you probably don’t think much about the hazards. But slips, trips and falls account for quite a few workplace strain/sprain injuries, some broken bones, lots of bruises – and even fatalities. And they can often be prevented by taking relatively simple measures.

What’s the difference between a slip, a trip and a fall? A slip is a loss of balance caused by too little friction between your feet and the surface you walk on. It’s friction that keeps your feet from sliding around. Put on a pair of ice skates and glide on the ice – it’s the low coefficient of friction that lets you smoothly cross the ice. Switch to broomball shoes with a thick and knobby rubber layer on the bottom, and you’ll stick to the ice instead. Those have a high coefficient of friction.

You trip when your foot hits an object while momentum is carrying your body forward, causing a loss of balance. The object could be uneven pavement, a hole, a hose left across the floor or a change in the floor level. 

When we think of falls, we usually think of falling off of something, such as falling off a roof or a ladder. But falls can occur on the same level. Any time you move too far off of your center of gravity, you’ll fall. If you stick your arms out to break your fall, you might well break your arms. Land on your head on a concrete floor, and you could have a permanent brain injury. 

How do you prevent these accidents?

Keep your workplace cleaned up. This can be a challenge, given the abundance of air hoses, extension cords and car parts in every shop. But we’ve been in shops that are rigorous about putting stuff away – and that means people work more efficiently. They don’t have to step over things. They don’t have to hunt for the extension cord or the tool buried under a bumper. And they’re less likely to trip and fall. 

Some workers seem born to be messy. But they can learn. Give them designated spots for common items. Remind them to straighten up. It might take daily reminders for weeks, as bad habits seem much easier to learn than good ones. If you persist, you may find their productivity increases as they get used to being neat. 

Install overhead cord reels. Put in more outlets, to minimize extension cord use. Encourage the use of battery-powered tools to eliminate many of those cords and hoses. 

Eliminate slippery surfaces whenever you can. That means clearing ice and snow in your parking lot. It also means cleaning up oil or other spills right away. Better yet, prevent the spills. Should you put drip pans underneath chemical dispensers? Do leaky valves need repair? Do you need bigger funnels? 

It isn’t just liquids that can make floors slippery. Powders such as those from sanding can be even greater slip hazards than liquids. Investing in a vacuum system to control dust could make it much easier to keep your floors (and the rest of your shop) clean. 

Check the condition of your floors. Do you have spalled concrete? Cracks in the floor? Broken floor grates? Drop-offs? OSHA considers any opening in a floor that’s at least two-inches wide to be a tripping hazard. Cover those permanently, if possible. The cost of keeping your floors in good condition will be quickly offset by the money you don’t need to spend because of an injury. 

Look at how you’re maintaining your floors. Are they being cleaned correctly? Soapy residue could make your floors more slippery. Ineffective cleaners won’t remove oil spills. Infrequent cleaning can make it harder to clean effectively.

Does your floor have changes in levels, such as raised areas, perhaps where an addition was put on? Those can be tripping hazards. Ideally, smooth out the floor. If you can’t do that, make the change easy to see. Paint it or tape it with a bright contrasting color. Ensure the area has enough lighting to make it easy for people to see the change.

We’re sure you’re not keen on being shoe police. Take a look, though, at what footwear employees wear. That applies to technicians and office personnel. While sandals, high heels or slippery soles might be perfectly okay for someone who sits at a desk all day, that footwear is not appropriate for anyone who walks into the shop areas, even if it is just to deliver a message. 

People are designed to be upright. When they suddenly and unexpectedly go down, the consequences can be severe. You can take steps to prevent slips, trips and falls: tidy your shop; eliminate the tripping hazards; control slippery surfaces. It takes an ongoing effort, an effort that will pay off with reduced injuries and with more efficient workers. 

For more information, contact Carol Keyes at 651- 481-9787 or carkey@chess-safety.com.

Want more? Check out the July 2025 issue of AASP-MN News!