According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 2014 saw a total of 247,120 injuries involving time spent away from work due to slip, trip, and fall accidents. Moreover, there was a total of 818 worker deaths that year due to slip and fall accidents.
Slips are common either when walking on a surface that is slick or when a worker’s footwear lacks traction. Trips can commonly occur when walking surfaces are broken, uneven, or cluttered with debris. A worker’s balance can also be a factor.
What can be done to prevent slip, trip, and fall accidents?
In order to reduce the slip, trip, and fall risk, EHS Today urges employers to implement the following measures into their work environment:
- Conducting a formal audit: While safety audits are common in many workplaces, they can take a lot of time. However, employers must comply with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1) to regularly inspect all walking surfaces. In addition to an inspection, a full audit should uncover hazards that may not have been previously identified.
- Document each incident report: In addition to full audits, documenting incident reports helps to identify areas where slip, trip, and fall hazards may reoccur. If a certain area has a history of accidents, workers should be made aware of the risk.
- Keep an eye on liquid trails: Some workplaces receive shipments of large containers filled with liquids. Even if the containers are sealed, some liquid could leak out and create a slipping hazard. Employers should regularly check where containers have been transported.
- Sponsor a safety contest: Workers, especially those who have experienced accidents, are more likely to know where slip, trip, and fall hazards exist. Sponsoring safety contests is a great way to help employees become aware of where the risks are located.
- Seek input from a vendor: The way employers treat and maintain their floor surfaces is crucial when it comes to preventing slip, trip, and fall accidents. An outside vendor may be able to offer advice on how to mitigate the risk.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim
If you’ve been injured at work, it’s important that you know your rights. Even if your mistake caused your slip, trip, and fall injury, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. That’s because in New Jersey, workers’ compensation is a no-fault system.
An experienced attorney at Kotlar, Hernandez & Cohen, LLC can help guide you through the process. Contact us today and find out how we can help you.
