FACTS

1. If repair or maintenance is required to remove the identified slip, trip or fall hazard, and the fix cannot be made immediately, the hazard must be guarded to prevent employees from using the walking-working surface until the hazard is corrected or repaired.
2. Walking-working surfaces are maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice.
3. On the job, there can be many different types of slip, trip and fall hazards. For instance, material debris on the ground is just as hazardous as cords or hoses lying in walking areas. Materials stored improperly present spill hazards and can cause slips.
4. Slips occur when there is too little friction or traction between your feet (footwear) and the walking or working surface, and you lose your balance.
5. Trips occur when your foot (or lower leg) hits an object and your upper body continues moving, throwing you off balance.
6. Falls occur in virtually all manufacturing and service sectors. Fatal falls are in construction, mining and certain maintenance activities.

STATS

• In 2020, 805 workers died in falls, and 211,640 were injured badly enough to require days off of work. 136 workers were killed in falls on the same level in 2020.
• Fall fatalities are nearly equally divided between men and women. However, more women will experience a slip-and-fall accident. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls accounted for 5% of the job-related fatalities for women compared to 11% for men.
• Falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits, representing the leading cause of visits (21.3%). Slips and falls account for over 1 million visits, or 12% of total falls.
• Fractures are the most serious consequences of falls and occur in 5% of all people who fall.
• According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), floors and flooring materials contribute directly to more than 2 million fall injuries each year.
• 85% of worker’s compensation claims are attributed to employees slipping on slick floors.
• 22% of slip/fall incidents resulted in more than 31 days away from work.
• Disabling (temporary and permanent) occupational injuries due to falls are approximately $250,000-$300,000 per year.