Saturday, November 18, 2023

Limiting Slips, Trips, and Falls

It’s winter time, and that means greater danger for slips, trips, and falls.

According to WorkSafeBC, 7,000 workplace injuries every year in the province are due to slips, trips, and falls. That’s one in every five injuries, typically fractures, sprains, and dislocations.

These injuries are the costliest workplace incidents ($148 million in claims per year) and also cause some of the biggest productivity losses (440,000 lost workdays per year). Construction is one of the most impacted sectors.

The good news is that preventing injuries from slips, trips, and falls is a matter of developing and implementing a risk management plan to identify and monitor hazards and risks, including

• installing wires, cords, and hoses so that they do not create tripping hazards;

• ensuring all equipment and materials are properly stored;

• ensuring workers have the right type of footwear.

WorkSafeBC notes that icy and wet conditions in the winter months contribute to an 11 percent increase in slip, trip, and fall injuries. That means that joint health and safety committees should revisit risk assessments due to changing workplace and weather conditions.

Limiting Slips, Trips, and Falls

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