Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

What’s Your Safety Grade?

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

Objectives

• Learn the costs of slips, trips and falls• Learn the causes of slips, trips and falls• Learn how to prevent slips, trips and falls

Identify hazards Implement controls Incident reporting

Average Total Incurred Costs

Could this happen at your school?

Robin has been a teacher with the district for 17 years. She was in the process of moving her classroom from the third to second floor of her building. Robin tripped and fell head first down a set of stairs while carrying a box of materials to her new classroom.

911 was called and she was taken to the hospital. This healthy mother of two was diagnosed with a spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia.

Total Expected Payments: $5,886,500

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

• Slips: Common causes:

• Floor design; coefficient of friction

• Wet or oily surfaces• Occasional spills• Weather hazards• Loose or unanchored rugs,

mats, carpet• Floor maintenance issues• Shoes

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

• Trips: Common causes:

• Inside– Rugs, mats, carpeting– Backpacks, books and bags– Exposed cables, cords– Open drawers or cabinets

• Outside– Cracks or holes in parking lots– Unmarked curb or ramp edges– Uneven walking surfaces– Inadequate lighting

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

Parking lots have plenty of other issues!

• Speed bumps

• Tire stops

• Wheelchair accessible curbs, ramps

Speed bump

Unmarked elevation changes:

Tire stop

Wheelchair accessible curb

Slippery conditions in the parking lot can be due to rain, ice, snow, frost, sleet, and hail.

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

• Wear shoes with: Slip-resistant soles and

a good tread No leather or smooth soles No open-toes No platform or high heels

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

• During rainy or winter weather Wipe shoes on mats, as necessary Provide covers for umbrellas Provide a place for rain gear Contact the custodial staff if you need

assistance with a slip and fall issue• CAUTION “Wet Floor” signs, etc.

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

• To reduce slips, trips and falls Contact the custodial staff if you need assistance

with a slip and fall issue• Spill or liquid clean up• Weather hazards• Loose or unanchored rugs, mats, carpet• Floor maintenance issues• Cracks or holes in parking lots• CAUTION “Wet Floor” signs, etc.

Incident Reporting

What information should be obtained?• Complete an Incident Report (IR)

Who, what, where, when, how, why Teacher/Principal response to the incident

(i.e. actions taken) Description of the incident from other

employees’ perspective Description of the surroundings, including weather

conditions Circumstances preceding the accident

• Take pictures, if camera is available• Submit IR to Claims Administrator

Summary

Costs of slips, trips and falls

Causes of slips, trips and falls

How to prevent slips, trips and falls Identify hazards

Implement controls

Incident reporting

Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention

What’s Your Safety Grade?