FACTS

1. Six good housekeeping practices to help prevent workplace slips, trips and falls include reporting and cleaning up spills and leaks; keeping aisles and exits clear of debris; installing mirrors and warning signs in blind spot areas; replacing worn, ripped or damaged flooring; installing anti-slip flooring in areas that can’t always be cleaned; and using drip pans and guards in places where spills may occur.
2. Nine signs of poor housekeeping are cluttered and poorly arranged work areas; dangerous storage of materials; dirty, dusty floors and work surfaces; hanging on to items that are no longer needed or having too many of the same items; blocked or cluttered aisles and exits; tools and equipment that are not returned to proper storage; broken containers and damaged materials; overflowing waste bins and containers; and spills and leaks.
3. One major aspect of workplace housekeeping is maintenance. If burned-out light bulbs aren’t replaced or if damaged or uneven flooring isn’t fixed, people can easily suffer injuries.
4. Incidents resulting in injury or death that stem from poor housekeeping include these four examples: tripping or falling over objects; fires caused by the ignition of unsafe buildups of combustible dusts; slips on wet, slick or greasy floors; and being struck by objects that have fallen after being improperly stored.
5. housekeeping responsibilities that all workers should share include cleaning up during the shift; day-to-day cleanup; waste disposal; removal of unused materials; and inspections to ensure that cleanup is completed.

STATS

In a recent year over 400,000 reported injuries were the result of poor housekeeping causing slips and falls; 35 % of all lost workdays were caused by injuries due to slips and falls.

• Slips and trips are the most common cause of major injuries at work. 95% of major slips result in broken bones and they can also be the initial cause for a range of other types of accident such as a fall from height.

Slips and trips are responsible for, on average:

• over a third of all reported major injuries.
• 20% of over-3-day injuries to employees.
• 2 fatalities per year.
• 50% of all reported accidents to members of the public that happen in workplaces.
• 852 workplace deaths were recorded in Canada. Add to these fatalities the 232,629 claims accepted for lost time due to a work-related injury or disease.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in recent years, there are more than 800 injuries annually involving floors, walkways, and ground surfaces.
• According to the US Department of Labor, 15% of all accidental worker deaths are attributable to slips, trips or falls, many of which are linked to poor workplace housekeeping.