4th March 2011

Global Statistics show that slips,trips and falls:

 - cause 1 in every 6 accidents.

 - are the 2nd leading cause of death in the work place.

 - account for 35% of all lost workdays due to injuries.



The NSC (National Safety Council) indicates that slips and falls are the single most common reason for an emergency room visit. The most frequent types of injuries to occur from a slip, trip or fall is injury to the back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and/or knee. In general, joint injuries tend to be most common. Per the DOL (U.S. Department of Labor), an average slip and fall injury costs roughly $28,000, which in turn puts financial strain on both individuals as well as companies where such an injury can occur. Slips and falls are the third largest cause of workplace injuries. Within North America, slips and falls lead to approximately 104 million lost workdays each year and in-turn end up costing approximately $36 billion dollars each year.

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control estimates that, in 2004 alone, more than eight million people were injured in slip-and-fall accidents. Since property owners are responsible for maintaining safe premises and warning visitors of potential hazards, they can be held liable for injuries that occur due to unsafe conditions on their property. Slip-and-fall accidents can result in many types of injuries, ranging from the relatively minor to the extremely severe.

What is the difference between a slip, trip, or fall? Very little, if you are the victim. The pain is the same, so it really doesn’t matter which of the three caused your accident, right? Actually, though, there really are some significant differences.

Slips occur when there is too little friction or traction between your feet and the walking surface. The most common causes of slips are wet surfaces, ice or other weather hazards, spills, and poor tread on footwear. Trips commonly occur when your foot strikes an object and your momentum throws you off balance. Falls usually take place from one level to another. One of the most common examples of this type of injury involves falling down stairs. Another involves using chairs as ladders.

Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents

A slip-and-fall accident can occur nearly anywhere, on public or private property, indoors or outdoors. A slip-and-fall injury can occur because of hazards such as:

• Adverse weather conditions (for example, ice, snow, or rain)
• Uneven sidewalks
• Potholes
• Poorly lit or unmarked pathways or stairs
• Slippery tiling
• Unbalanced flooring
• Rippled carpet
• Obstructions on the floor or walkway

Types of Slip-and-fall Injuries

Typical injuries resulting from slip-and-fall accidents range in severity. A victim may sustain bruises, broken bones, and scrapes that require minimal medical treatment and heal relatively quickly. Other victims suffer a catastrophic personal injury – a brain injury, spinal cord injury, or burn injury – that causes lifelong damage and requires ongoing medical care. In the worst case scenario, the victim dies because of his or her injuries. If this is the case, and the accident occurred because of the property owner’s negligence, then the death is considered a wrongful death and can be litigated as such.

Slip-and-Fall Damages

If you or a loved one has sustained a slip-and-fall injury, contact SlipGuard at www.slipguard.in to determine your safety and reduce lawsuit.

You have a duty to keep floors safe

You are responsible for the health and safety of your life & your employees while they are at work and any customers who visit your premises. There are organizations which advise that poor health and safety procedures could mean increased insurance premiums or difficulty in obtaining future insurance cover n yes they are right. Precaution is always better than cure.

Slip Guard works on all floors and measures slip resistance in clean dry conditions, in the wet and with any other contamination. Slip Guard makes floors safer and saves you money. There is one more precautionary tip that applies in all these cases, and that is to PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING. This is among the most common causes of injuries, and is the easiest to correct.

• Biological Safety
  
• Chemical Safety
  
• Emergency Response
  
• Facilities and Construction Safety
  

Facts about Slips, Trips, & Falls

Regulations

The two primary regulatory standards that apply to slips, trips, and fall are OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22 Walking-Working Surfaces and the ANSI A1264.2-2006 Provision for the Slip Resistance on Walking/Working Surfaces.

Causes of slips, trips and falls vary considerably and can include one or more of the following:

• Walkway surface substances & spills; eg. oil, water, and/or other liquid surface contamination.
• Lack of training and/or knowledge about slips/trips & falls.
• Mats or rugs which become unanchored or loose.
• Weather related items like rain, snow and/or ice.
• Use of inappropriate footwear.
• Walkway surfaces that are in disrepair.
• Sheen/smooth walkway surfaces that do not allow for adequate footwear-traction

Believe it or not, approximately 70 percent of slips, trips, and falls occur on level walking surfaces. Training employees on methods to prevent, as well as awareness of slip, trip, and fall hazards is essential to reducing the likeliness of becoming a statistic. Once trained and made aware, common sense also plays an important role in preventing slips, trips, and falls.

Commonly Asked Questions