Slips, trips, and falls are among the most common risks that are present in the workplace. This can result in major injuries to your workers. But, the good news is, these risks are completely preventable as long as you keep your site free from hazards and use the right gear from a safety equipment supplier in the Philippines. Keep on reading if you want to know how to prevent slips, trips, and falls, in the workplace!
The primary reason why slips happen is due to slippery flooring. Wet and oily surfaces can make it easier for workers to accidentally lose their balance and develop injuries. If you want to reduce this risk, you need to get rid of moisture and grease.
That means cleaning spills immediately or putting a highly visible “wet floor” signage to warn pedestrians and incoming vehicles of a slippery surface. These are made with bright material and universally understood labels, so they’re useful for any workplace.
If your workplace gets wet regularly, it might be a good idea to put moisture-absorbent mats, anti-skid adhesive tapes, and anti-slip floor coatings to reduce the risk of slips.
Housekeeping is doing more than just improving the aesthetic appeal of a dirty and disordered workplace. The number one cause of trips is clutter. If there are obstacles in the way, workers can accidentally collide with an object and lose balance. A disorganized workplace with open bottom drawers, wrinkled carpeting, and messy cables increases the risk of trips.
This is why good housekeeping is essential for a workplace, especially if you have busy workers buzzing around the site with tasks to complete all day. By keeping pathways free from clutter, you’re not only reducing the risk of trips, but also improving productivity because your employees can move as they want.
Slips, trips, and falls can happen when there isn’t enough traction on your feet and the surface. In addition to good housekeeping, this can be prevented when your workers wear the right safety shoes. This type of footwear has soles with a strong grip to prevent accidental slips at the site. Depending on the job and the specific working conditions, the shoes that your workers need might also vary.
For instance, the Delta Plus Asti is made with a polyurethane outsole, which is a non-slip material! It’s also comfortable to wear for long hours so your workers can complete their tasks without problems.
Obstructed views and poor lighting are some reasons why people trip on equipment at the workplace. Even if your workers have 20-20 vision, it could be hard to do their work safely if you have a dim site. Aside from the main working areas, don’t forget to install bright lighting on stairs, walkways, ramps, and basements.
If you have workers doing their tasks at night, it is recommended to invest in high-visibility gear. For example, if you want to limit entry to dangerous zones, you can use cones and barricades that offer high reflectivity during nighttime. This way, workers can avoid these areas and reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls!
When a worker completes their tasks at heights, the risk of falls is high. This is higher when it involves slippery, unstable, and cluttered surfaces. Be sure to clean and maintain platforms, ladders, scaffolding, and other elevated work areas to reduce the risk.
If you plan to require workers to work at heights, it is recommended to have a fall protection system in place and make use of safety guardrails. A fall arrest system includes an anchorage, lanyard and body harness that can stop a worker from reaching the ground in an event of a fall. The ELARA320 is ready to use and has all the components you need so the only thing that’s left is to select a strong anchor point.
One of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of accidents in the workplace is through worker education. Taking the time to explain the outcomes of slips, trips, and falls to your employees can go a long way in reducing their occurrence.
For instance, thinking of random thoughts, being complacent, and letting their guard down can easily lead to slips, trips, and falls. Hurrying to finish tasks, running from place to place to reach the quota, and taking shortcuts are some of the common factors that might lead to injuries. From the management side, you need to explain to your workers that their safety should be the top priority.
Slips, trips, and falls, can result to injuries that can take months to heal. But the steps you could take to protect against this risk are simple and doable. With a combination of good housekeeping, the right safety gear, and worker education, these risks can be prevented.
If you want to know more about how to prevent slips trips and falls in the workplace, Dels Apparel can help you! They provide high-visibility clothing, safety shoes, and fall arrest gear to keep your workers safe from injuries.
