Slips, Trips, and Falls
EHSRM
February 2014
Slips, Trips, and Falls
• Target Audience
– All UAF employees and students
• Objectives
– Increase employee awareness to recognize slip,
trip, and fall hazards at UAF
– Encourage employee participation in identifying,
reporting and preventing injuries caused by slips,
trips, and falls
See something, say something, do something
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Slips, Trips, and Falls
• Learning Objectives
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General
UAF slips, trips and falls
Costs of slips, trips and falls
Definitions
Circumstances associated with slips, trips, falls
Risk factors
Types of injuries
Prevention
Reporting
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Slips, Trips, and Falls - General
• Majority of general industry accidents are
caused by slips, trips and falls
• Slips, trips and falls cause 15% of all
accidental deaths, and are the second
leading cause behind motor vehicle accidents
• Slips, trips, and falls can occur anywhere in
your work environment
• Can result in falls, permanent disability and
even death
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Costs of Slips, Trips, and Falls
• To the employee
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Lost wages
Pain and suffering, embarrassment
Temporary or permanent disability
Reduced quality of life
Death
• To the employer
– Loss of productivity
– Costs for overtime or training for replacement
worker
– Increased insurance premiums
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UAF Slips, Trips, and Falls
• 32% of all injuries at
UAF are slips, trips
and falls
• Average annual costs
due to workman’s
comp claims at UAF:
approximately
$282,000
• Average annual total
employee days away
from work: 135 days
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UAF Slips, Trips, and Falls (cont.)
• In 2012, we had
– 55 reported slips, trips and falls
• 43 were outside, 12 inside
• 33 of the 43 outside occurred during months when
ice and snow are normally present
• In 2013, we had
– 65 reported slips, trips, and falls
• 47 outside, 12 inside, 6 were falls from equipment
• 28 of the 47 outside occurred during months when
ice and snow are normally present
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Definitions
• Slip
– Lack of friction or traction
between footwear and
walking or working surface
that results in loss of
balance
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Definitions (cont.)
• Trip
– Foot or lower leg hitting
an object and the upper
body continues to move
forward resulting in loss of
balance
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Definitions (cont.)
• Fall
– A fall occurs when one is too far off
center of balance.
• Two types of Falls
– Fall at same level
• Fall to same walking or working surface, or
• Fall into or against objects above the same
surface
– Fall to lower level
• Fall to level below walking or working
surface
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Slip Circumstances
Wet areas on walking surfaces
Dry products on walking surface
Freshly waxed surfaces
Icy walk ways
Transitioning from one surface to another
Sloped walking surfaces
Mounting and dismounting vehicles and
equipment
• Loose, irregular surfaces such as gravel
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Trip Circumstances
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Uneven surfaces
Sidewalk/curb drops
Wheelchair ramps and curbs
Uncovered cables, wires or extension cords
across aisles or walkways.
Clutter or obstacles in aisles or walkways
Open file cabinet or desk drawer
Irregularities in walking surfaces
Damaged steps on stairways
Elevator not level
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Fall Circumstances
Slipping or tripping
Not wearing fall protection while working
Improper use of ladders
Inattention to surroundings
Condition of ground surfaces - Icy, wet,
uneven, cluttered with debris
• Improperly mounting/dismounting of
equipment
• Loss of balance
• Unprotected edges
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Risk Factors – Environmental Conditions
Icy Surfaces
Snow
Buildup
on Stairs
Poor Lighting
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Risk Factors - Environmental Conditions
Fog or misty conditions
Poor Housekeeping
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Risk Factors – Human
• Carrying objects that
– Obstruct your view
– Do not leave a free hand
• Lack of situational awareness
– Texting and walking or listening to music
– Talking on cell phones while walking
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In a hurry or taking shortcuts
Failing eyesight or visual perception
Age
Physical/medical conditions
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Risk Factors – Human (cont.)
Lack of Fall Protection
Equipment
Improper Use of Ladders
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Types of Slip, Trip & Fall Injuries
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Back and neck injuries
Head injuries
Muscle injuries
Joint injuries
Broken bones
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Prevention:
Identify the Hazards in the Photos
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Prevention – Hazards Identified
Snow on stairs
creating an uneven
surface
Water on floor
Cord in walkway
Broom sticking out
Stair tread pealed
up
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Prevention (cont.)
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Report identified hazards – unsafe condition report
Wear proper footwear with good traction
Use hand rails when using stairways
Complete required trainings
Be aware of your surroundings
Remove clutter
from walkways
Utilize fall protection
Wear ice cleats
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Reporting
• To report accident/injury or near misses,
use the Accident Injury Report
• To report an unsafe condition, use the Unsafe
Condition Report
• To report icy conditions that need attention,
please contact Facility Services directly at
474-7000 or dispatch@fs.uaf.edu or
snowremoval@fs.uaf.edu
Remember if you report
an unsafe condition you
are automatically entered
into a quarterly incentive
award drawing!
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Contact Information
Main Line
 Carol Shafford 474-5413
cashafford@alaska.edu
Ice Cleats, Loss Prevention
 Billie Swaim 474-6164
bjswaim@alaska.edu
Occupational Safety, Accident
and Injury
 Gary Beaudette 474-2763
gsbeaudette@alaska.edu
 Kim Knudsen 474-5476
klamb1@alaska.edu
www.uaf.edu/safety/
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