FACTS

1. Slips and falls do not constitute a primary cause of fatal occupational injuries, but represent the primary cause of lost days from work.
2. Here are two things to know about footwear in the workplace: People working in predominantly wet conditions should wear footwear with a pattern that is deep enough to penetrate surface water and make direct contact with a floor. However, people working in predominantly dry conditions should use footwear having flat-bottom construction to ensure maximum contact area with the floor.
3. Ten common slipping hazards include spills of liquid or solid materials; wet cleaning methods; rain or snow inside doorways; changes in floor surfaces, such as joins between carpeting and wood flooring; a change from a wet to a dry surface; dusty or sandy surfaces; the incline of a ramp; loose/bumpy flooring; low light; and unsuitable footwear.
4. Shoes with urethane or rubber soles have greater slip resistance than shoes with vinyl or leather soles.
5. Five housekeeping practices that can help reduce slipping hazards in the workplace include removal of debris, snow and ice; prompt cleanup of spills; regular cleaning of floors; providing mats in areas prone to getting wet—such as building entrances; and cleaning the casters on wheeled carts. (Ontario Ministry of Labour)
6. It takes about seven minutes for a wet-mopped spill to dry, meaning that the area is going to be extremely slippery during that time. A better solution is to use a dry paper towel to soak up and dry a spill.

STATS

Slip and Fall Statistics 2017

• 697 workers died in fall-related accidents in 2016
• 48,060 were injured severely enough during a fall to require days off work
• In 2016, 9.2 million people required emergency room treatment from fall-related injuries
• Falls are the number one cause of death for adults 65 and older
• More than 33,000 people died from falls in 2015.
• The National Safety Council’s Odds of Dying list ranks falls as the 6th most likely cause of death, with the odds of dying as 1 in 127.
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.
• Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal medically treated injuries in the U.S.
• Each year, over 8 million emergency room visits are due to slips, trips, and falls.
• Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults age 65 and older.