Slips, trips and falls account for almost 20% of workplace injuries. The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to protect workers from hazards and provide training. This document outlines how to recognize and prevent common slip, trip and fall hazards through measures such as keeping work areas tidy, wearing proper footwear, using handrails, and paying attention to surroundings. Slips often involve wet or slippery surfaces while trips are usually caused by obstacles; falls can result from slips or trips and may be prevented through guardrails, covers, and fall protection equipment.

1. SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS:
PREVENTION
Everyone has responsibility for
Health & Safety as an essential
part of their job.
Ontario’s Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) requires that
employers take every reasonable precaution to protect workers,
provide information and instruction and ensure that workers
properly use or wear the required equipment. Employers,
Supervisors and workers can be prosecuted for not complying with
the law.

2. OUR GOALS FOR YOU:
• Learn to recognize workplace slip, trip and fall
hazards
• Learn to prevent conditions and acts that cause
slips, trips and falls
• Be alert and safety conscious to prevent slips, trips
and falls
Slipping, tripping and falling make up almost 20% of all workplace injuries.
Preventing these injuries should be a key part of workplace safety

3. How this Hazard can affect you:
• Each year there are approx 17,000 lost-time injuries
due to falls in the workplace
• 65% of all fall related injuries are from “same level”
• 1 in 5 lost-time injuries result from falls
• Every year about 20 people in Ontario die because of
Workplace falls
• 80 workers are injured every day because of a fall
Source: * WSIB “Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls in the Workplace” *

4. Indoor Slip, Trip & Fall Hazards
Cables Wet Floor
Open Cabinets

5. Outdoor Slip, Trip & Fall Hazards
Muddy Parking Lot
Loose Gravel

6. Definition of Slip
SLIP:
A sudden sliding motion when the
foot (or shoe) loses traction with
the walking surface potentially
resulting in a loss of balance. This
can either be corrected or cause
the individual to fall.

7. Common causes of Slips are:
• Wet or oily surfaces
• Occasional spills
• Weather Hazards
• Loose, unanchored rugs or mats
• Flooring or other walking surfaces that do not have
the same degree of traction in all areas

8. Definition of Trip
TRIP:
A stumble, often over an
obstacle, causing an individual
to lose their balance. This can
either be corrected or cause the
individual to fall. Trips happen
when the foot strikes or hits an
object.

9. Common causes of Trips are:
• Obstructed view
• Poor Lighting
• Clutter in the path or travel
• Wrinkled carpeting
• Uncovered cables
• Bottom drawers not being closed
• Uneven walking surfaces

10. Definition of Fall
Fall:
An event that results in an individual or a
body part coming into contact with the
ground or other surface that is lower than the
individual. Falls most often, though not
always, result from slips or trips where your
centre of gravity is shifted causing you to lose
your balance. Falls can occur at the same
level, eg: down a flight of stairs or through an
opening.

11. Common causes of Falls are:
• Missing protective device (Guardrails / Handrails)
• Poorly maintained / unsuitable guardrails and covers
• Unguarded openings in floors, work surfaces or walls of buildings or
other structures including skylights in roof structures
• Equipment that is missing or in poor condition (ladders, elevating
work platforms)
• Lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as: equipment
unavailable, unused or misused
• Poor work practices (unclear job procedures, lack of training or
workers rushing to meet deadlines)
• Poor lighting, slippery surfaces, Inadequate “housekeeping” (messy
of cluttered work area)

12. Preventative Measures
Entering / Exiting Equipment Safely
▫ Clean footwear of mud, grease or any other contamination
▫ Make sure the Step, Running Board, Tread, Foothold and
platform of equipment are also clean of any contamination
▫ Always face the equipment when entering and exiting
▫ Maintain 3-point contact while getting onto/off of the
equipment until reaching ground, cab or stable platform
Definition of 3-point contact: One hand, Two feet
Two hands, One foot

13. 3-Point Contact Examples:
Three Point Contact - One Hand, Two Feet
- Two Hands, One Foot
Step down or up carefully while facing equipment
Do not jump off when entering / exiting cab of a truck or
other part of equipment

14. Preventative Measures
Work Organization & Tidiness Be Careful on the Stairs
• Organized and tidy work space,
close cabinets and drawers
immediately after each use
• Keep the floor around your
workspace free of boxes, cords,
cables, tools, materials and other
objects
• Put away tools, packaging, break
down boxes and dispose of in
appropriate containers
• Always use handrails when
climbing or descending stairs
• Do not rush and skip steps
• Don’t carry anything that may
prevent you from holding onto
the handrail
• NEVER carry a load you can’t see
over or around. Use a Cart

15. Wear Proper Footwear
Wearing the right footwear for your
work environment will help prevent or
reduce Slip, Trip & Fall incidences
• Footwear should fit comfortably and
snugly
• Keep your footwear clean and in
good condition at all times
• Inspect regularly for any damage;
Repair or replace worn or defective
footwear
• Replace shoes or replace soles
before they become worn and/or
smooth.

16. • Pay attention to your surroundings
• Look where you are walking
• Walk where you are looking
• Do not engage in activities that
distract your attention
• Do not read, write, text or dial
while you are walking
• Walk carefully and slowly when
you transition from one type of
surface to another
• Slow down and take small careful
steps if the surface is uneven,
cluttered, slippery or inclined
Pay Attention

17. Pay Attention
• Maintain clear, tidy work areas free of clutter
• Follow good housekeeping procedures by cleaning up and
throwing out debris and materials while you work
• Fix hazards such as small spills and cluttered walkways if you
are able to do so safely
• Use caution when entering/exiting vehicles and equipment
and when climbing/descending ladders
• Reports hazards promptly

18. SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS ARE PREVENTABLE
PAY ATTENTION
BE PROACTIVE
BE CAREFUL