Slip, trip, and fall (STF) incidents extend far beyond mere embarrassment—they represent a significant concern for businesses. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which collects and analyzes labor, industry and economic data, STF accidents rank among the top 3 causes of injuries that result in employee days away from work and work-related fatalities.
In 2022 alone, BLS notes there were 450,540 days away from work from STF injuries. These incidents not only lead to human suffering and loss for the worker, but they also increase the financial impact of workers’ compensation claims, create liability risks, disrupt business continuity, and impact overall productivity and profitability. More importantly, BLS reports that slip and fall events in 2022 led to 865 work-related fatalities.
This article focuses specifically on same-level slip, trip and fall incidents, exploring their primary causes, methods for identifying workplace risk factors, and effective strategies to mitigate these risks.
Consider the primary causes of same-level slips, trips and falls
Same-level falls occur when there is a loss of balance. Apart from being impacted by a medical or physical condition, most people do not just fall to the ground. When standing, stepping up, or leaning, falls typically happen when there is an unexpected change in the stability of the worker or the work surface/support. When moving, this happens when there is an unexpected change in footing or a sudden interruption in motion (usually due to a slip or trip). Whether it is a slippery surface, a weak or uneven floor, or an unforeseen obstacle, these incidents catch us off guard and can lead to a fall and potentially serious consequences.
The first step to effectively protect your workplace from slip, trip and fall incidents, is to better understand two of the basic causes that lead to these unexpected changes: environment and actions.
Environment
We often think of the environment as just the physical aspects and obvious hazards of the walk/work surface (like that slippery floor or trip hazard), but the workplace environment encompasses more. It also includes the surrounding environmental elements (light, glare, materials, processes, waste/residue, workplace design) and the social environment or work culture that influences behaviors. Workplace environments and subsequent physical hazards don’t just happen. They are either created or allowed to develop/exist and are often the result of actions or processes (e.g., cracked flooring from heavy loads, leaks from equipment or machinery, plastic banding left on the floor). It’s also important to remember that environments are dynamic and can change with the time of day, season or high production demands.
Actions
Actions include how people move around and the work they do —walking, running, leaning, pushing, pulling, or carrying items. The type of tasks and the way they are performed is significant - e.g., moving quickly, changing direction, leaning or reaching, awkward postures, moving with blocked vision or unstable loads, and multi-tasking. These are intentional, predictable, and controllable behaviors that are often influenced or created by the environment (e.g., using a makeshift step to reach a high shelf, walking while looking at paperwork or a text, pushing an overloaded cart).
Understanding the how/why behind environment, action risk factors and the impact they have on each other is critical to effecting change and developing controls. It is important to consider how the environment can influence actions, and how actions can change the environment.
Consider the ins and outs of the workspace
Many workplaces are a “four-wall” setting with designated work areas and limited foot traffic; however, when evaluating environments and actions, it is important to include both the internal and the external factors at play.
Internal factors
Within the work environment, there’s a myriad of physical features that can contribute to accidents. Things like floor hazards (water, oil, or other materials on the production floor), the layout of the work area (the arrangement of workstations, corridors, and common spaces), cluttered pathways, crowded work areas, cramped corners, blind spots, and poorly organized spaces can all impact safety. Movement also plays a factor – the deliberate steps, turns and occasional distractions. Whether it’s rushing between tasks or not paying attention to our surroundings, behavior matters.
External factors
As we venture outdoors, whether it is part of the job or part of getting to the job, we encounter a realm of external influences. These may be more difficult to control as seasons, varying weather conditions and unexpected hazards all contribute to slip, trip and falls. But how these conditions are tracked into the workplace via footwear and entryways is controllable. If your business welcomes clients or vendors, they could slip, trip, or fall too. That opens the door to potential liability claims. So, keeping an eye on those outdoor hazard’s matters.
