Don't be Slipping

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

Injuries in the workplace are unfortunate, but they do happen. The second most common type of workplace injury is a falling or a tripping injury and they happen more frequently then you’d think. The biggest cause for a falling injuries are wet or slippery floors. Floors in the workplace can get wet very easily from things spilling or it can just be part of the daily work environment, depending on where you work.

Things you can do to avoid slippery floors are to be aware where floors could or are frequently slippery. Examples of places that are frequently slippery are places where things are washed, like a dish room or a car wash. Places like this have water and soap on the floor often and create a slippery surface. If you’re aware of this you can be more careful. Another thing you can do to avoid slipping is to buy slip proof shoes. These shoes are often recommended for employees that are working in restaurants and places where you move around a lot. One way to avoid slipping on wet surfaces is to indicate that it’s wet and potentially slippery. Most employers have to have wet floor signs by law, but if you don’t use them they can’t help. If you notice that a place is wet and mark it with a wet floor sign it could save someone from slipping. The easiest way to avoid slippery surfaces is to clean up the spill. Doing that could avoid the whole problem from the start.

The second half of falling would be to trip. Tripping can occur when obstacles are in the way of frequent walking. It is very important to make sure that areas where people walk are clear of any obstacles or debris. A very dangerous injury can occur when people are carrying objects that can obscure their view and they trip over something and fall. The object they were carrying could land on them and hurt them even more. To avoid this you can make sure you have a clear path to walk before the object is picked up. You could also have someone help you make sure the path is clear before you start walking.

Slipping and tripping injuries are very common in the workplace and it is important you take precautions to keep you and your coworkers safe.

Thank you for your time and attention. Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Dale Bromenshenkel
Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company