5 Easy Ways To Prevent a Tragic Slip and Fall

Winter brings stunning scenery but also creates hazardous walking conditions. This is true outdoors and indoors, where wet floors or tracked-in snow can lead to slip hazards. Slips, trips, and falls are the leading causes of injuries in the workplace. A fall can result in disastrous consequences such as dislocations, fractures, sprains, back injuries, bruises, concussions, and even death. Falls are more frequent in winter, and injuries are more severe than in summer. Fall prevention measures are crucial because most of these injuries are preventable with slip-prevention measures.

What Is the Cost of Slips, Trips and Falls?

Did you know that slips and falls account for approximately 30% of all occupational injuries in North America? These incidents can be costly for both employers and employees. Injuries such as a broken collarbone or wrist from a fall are painful and can ruin your skiing, hockey, or snowmobiling season. Fall prevention is the key to staying healthy and safe. Learn more about some recent fines and health and safety initiatives by checking out the Breaking News.

What Should You Do After a Slip and Fall Injury

In Canada, employees typically cannot sue their employer for injuries sustained from a slip and fall during work hours. Workers’ compensation systems operate on a no-fault basis. If you are injured, it is essential to notify your employer immediately so the workers’ compensation process can begin as soon as possible.

However, if you are injured in a slip and fall while not at work, you may have the option to sue. Property owners or occupiers have a legal responsibility to maintain safe conditions for visitors. Common hazards include icy sidewalks, uneven flooring, poorly lit staircases, and unsecured areas. hazards. Let’s explore ways to reduce our chances of getting hurt.

Why Do We Fall?

We experience a fall when our center of mass shifts outside our base of support, making it impossible to regain balance. This often occurs due to unexpected changes in the walking surface, such as ice, holes, or electrical cords. Worn or poorly designed footwear will provide little grip and an unstable base of support, making it challenging to stay upright. Collisions with other people or objects and carrying a load can also cause our center of mass to shift unpredictably, leading to a fall. Additionally, medications, recreational drugs, physical impairments and hypothermia can affect our walking patterns and our ability to recover from a slip, which increases the risk of a serious fall. Workplace chemicals may also affect your physical and cognitive abilities; make sure you know the hazards of the chemicals you work with by taking the free WHMIS training.

Slip Prevention: How Do We Reduce Slips, Trips and Falls?

To reduce the risk of falls at work and home, our primary focus should be ensuring that walking surfaces have good traction, remain free of obstacles, and are adequately illuminated. Unfortunately, we must contend with challenges such as snow, ice, sleet, and reduced daylight hours in northern regions. This makes appropriate footwear essential for minimizing falls and the serious injuries that can result from them.

Why Is Footwear Important in Reducing Slips and Falls?

Our feet are the only point of contact with the ground, making footwear a crucial factor in preventing slips. The design and material of the shoe’s tread directly influence the coefficient of friction (COF) between the shoe and the floor. A lower COF indicates less grip and a higher risk of slipping. Make your you have the best winter boots for traction this winter.

How Do I Choose the Right Slip-Resistant Footwear for Winter?

Here are some tips for choosing footwear that will help you stay safe at work at and at home:

• Look for slip-resistant soles: These are typically made of rubber compounds that grip various surfaces well.
  • The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has developed a GRIP rating scheme to help you identify slip-resistant footwear.
  • The KITE Research Institute in Canada has a fabulous website that tests work safety footwear and casual footwear for traction on ice. Look for footwear with two snowflakes. Check out their website for the latest information.
  • Carl Murawski has a great video on the best boots for winter ice
• Consider the tread design: Deeper treads with aggressive patterns will provide better traction than smooth soles.
• Replace worn-out shoes and boots: Don’t wait until your footwear is completely bald before replacing them! Regularly inspect your footwear for signs of wear, and replace them when the tread depth is low. As shoes and boots wear down, their ability to provide traction decreases. Studies have shown that worn-out outsoles, especially in the heel region, significantly reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) and increase the chances of a slip. If the worn-out area is bigger than the size of an AAA battery, it is time to change your footwear.
• Use spikes/studs on ice: Conventional footwear lacks grip in icy conditions. To prevent slips, consider using anti-slip devices with spikes or studs for better traction.
• Learn more: See the Alberta Government tutorial on selecting proper footwear.

Winter Safety: Additional Tips for Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

• Ensure sidewalks, stairs, and parking lots are quickly cleaned and salted: Call your municipality or manager and remind them if necessary.  
• Report unsafe conditions: If you see a spill or other hazardous condition, fix it or report it immediately to the appropriate personnel. If you had a close call, someone else may have a bad fall.
• Use a cart: Carrying loads is one of the major factors contributing to slip-and-fall injuries. If you must carry materials, ensure that you can see where you are going, take several trips instead of straining, and try to keep the load balanced.
• Mind the stairs: Stairs are dangerous places when wet or covered with snow and ice. Take your time going up and down and use handrails for added stability whenever possible.
• Be aware of your surroundings: Pay attention to the walking surface and watch out for spills, wet floors, and uneven surfaces. Walking while reading your phone is dangerous.
• Walk steadily:  An increase in walking velocity increases the friction demand and risk of a slip.  Take short, deliberate steps on slick surfaces.
• Encourage your workplace to implement a slip, trip, and fall (STFL) prevention program. Studies have shown that a comprehensive and sustained intervention can significantly reduce STFL and related injuries. 
• Learn when it is too cold to work, hypothermia will increase your risk of a serious fall 

By following these tips, you can significantly reduce your risk of slipping, tripping, and falling at home and work. Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility!

Further Reading On Fall Prevention and Slips, Trips, and Falls

This post has provided a brief overview of slip and fall prevention. Here are some additional resources you may find helpful:

• Beschorner, K. E., Siegel, J. L., Hemler, S. L., Sundaram, V. H., Chanda, A., Iraqi, A., Haight, J. M., & Redfern, M. S. (2020). An observational ergonomic tool for assessing the worn condition of slip-resistant shoes. Applied Ergonomics, 88, 103140.
• Chang, W. R., Leclercq, S., Lockhart, T. E., & Haslam, R. (2016). State of science: occupational slips, trips and falls on the same level^*    . Ergonomics, 59(7), 861–883. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2016.1157214
• Cho, H., H. Heijnen, M. J., Craig, B. A., & Rietdyk, S. (2021). Falls in young adults: The effect of sex, physical activity, and prescription medications. PLOS ONE, 16(4), e0250360. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250360
• Cockayne S, Fairhurst C, Frost G, et al
  Slip-resistant footwear reduces slips among National Health Service workers in England: a randomised controlled trial
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2021;78:472-478.
• Gupta, S., Chatterjee, S., & Chanda, A. (2022). Effect of footwear material wear on slips and falls. Materials Today: Proceedings, 62, 3508-3515.
   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.04.313
• Gupta, S., Chatterjee, S., Malviya, A. et al. Frictional Assessment of Low-Cost Shoes in Worn Conditions Across Workplaces. J Bio Tribo Corros 9, 23 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40735-023-00741-0
• Hippi, M., Kangas, M., Ruuhela, R., Ruotsalainen, J., & Hartonen, S. (2020). RoadSurf-Pedestrian: A sidewalk condition model to predict risk for wintertime slipping injuries. Meteorological Applications, 27(5), e1955. https://doi.org/10.1002/met.1955
• Tanwar, R., Nandal, N., Zamani, M., & Manaf, A. A. (2022). Pathway of Trends and Technologies in Fall Detection: A Systematic Review. Healthcare, 10(1), 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10010172