Slips trips and falls are one of the most common causes of workplace injuries (approximately 13% of injuries) in the community social services sector. These incidents can happen in offices, community spaces, kitchens, and outdoor areas.
Most slips, trips and falls are preventable with simple everyday actions. Preventing slips, trips, and falls starts with three basic steps. Identify the hazards, assess the risk, and put effective prevention measures in place.
Program Builder: Slip Trip and Falls Safety Talk
Program Builder: Slip, Trip and Falls Online Course
Program Builder: WorkSafeBC: Slip Trip and Falls Resources
Program Builder: WorkSafeBC Kitchen Safety – Prevent Slip Trip and Falls Video
WorkSafeBC Requirements
WorkSafeBC mandates that all employers take reasonable steps to prevent slip, trip and falls in the workplace. This includes identifying hazards, controlling slippery or uneven surfaces, and keeping work areas safe for workers to move through.
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Slips, trips, and falls put workers at risk of sprains, strains, bruises, concussions, and fractures. Falls often result from slipping or tripping. Learn how to prevent slips, trips and falls by taking our online self-paced course.
What Employers Need to Know
Legal Requirements
- Keep floors and walkways safe: Maintain floors, stairs, ramps, and walkways in good condition and free from hazards. Regularly inspect high-traffic areas, repair damage as soon as it’s found, remove clutter, and clearly block or mark areas that are unsafe or out of service.
- Manage wet and slippery surfaces: Prevent slippery conditions by cleaning up spills right away and addressing sources of water or liquids. Use floor drains or other controls in areas where liquids are common, and maintain drainage systems to prevent pooling.
- Ensure adequate lighting: Make sure all work areas, walkways, and stairways are well lit so hazards are easy to see. Replace burnt-out bulbs promptly, keep light fixtures clean, check that emergency lighting works, and address glare or shadows that could hide trip hazards.
- Use appropriate footwear: Appropriate footwear to the workplace must be worn. In most community social services workplaces, this means closed-toed, slip resistant footwear. A footwear policy may be needed to address specific footwear requirements for the workplace.
Best Practices
Prevent Slips
- Focus on high risk areas; kitchen or bathroom environments present a higher risk of slips due to water, grease, food debris, and frequent temperature changes.
- Keep floors clean and dry.
- Fix leaks and report equipment issues promptly.
- Use floor mats and warning signs when needed.
- Ensure floors provide good traction
Plan and Design Your Workplace
- Organize the layout, equipment, and walkways so workers and people served can move safely and efficiently without obstruction.
- Include safety features such as handrails on stairs, non-slip stair edges, and covered entrances to reduce weather-related hazards.
- Involve workers and supervisors when planning layouts, as they can identify trip hazards that occur during daily tasks.
- Consider lighting, noise, and temperature to make hazards visible and reduce distractions.
Focus on Floors and Surfaces
- Choose floor materials and finishes that reduce slipperiness.
- Inspect floors regularly for wear, damage, or debris.
- Address problem areas identified through inspections, incident reports, and slip-and-trip mapping.
Encourage Safe Habits
- Inspect work areas regularly for slip and trip hazards using a team approach that includes workers, supervisors, and the JOHSC.
- Encourage workers to follow safe work habits consistently and to follow safe work procedures and take extra care in high-risk areas such as entrances, stairs, and storage areas.
- Make hazard reporting and risk awareness part of the workplace culture.
Disclaimer: This resource is intended to help community social service organizations understand the requirements of different aspects developing of health and safety programs. It provides information on key concepts and directs users to relevant resources. The content above is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Please refer to the included links or consult official legislation and resources for current and accurate information.