Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention

Category: Housekeeping Time: 5–10 min Audience: All Workers

The numbers

Slips and falls are the second leading cause of workplace injury, trailing only overexertion. They send roughly 800,000 workers to the hospital every year. Most are caused by conditions that take less than 60 seconds to fix.

Common causes

Wet or greasy floors. Extension cords across walkways. Open drawers or cabinet doors. Debris, clutter, or materials in aisles. Uneven surfaces or damaged flooring. Poor lighting. Each of these is preventable.

Your responsibility

If you see a hazard — a spill, a cord across an aisle, a broken floor tile — address it immediately if you can, or report it immediately if you can't. Don't walk past it hoping someone else will handle it.

Footwear matters

Slip-resistant soles make a measurable difference in wet and greasy environments. If your job involves wet floors regularly, the right footwear is as important as any other PPE.

Discussion question

What's one slip or trip hazard you've noticed in this work area that we could address today?

Documentation Reminder

Record this meeting: date, topic ("Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention"), names of attendees, and facilitator. A sign-in sheet filed with your safety records is your proof of training. OSHA considers documented safety meetings as evidence of good faith.