Slips, Trips & Falls
Trips and slips leading to falls are the second-most common cause of workplace injuries. To address these risks, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains general industry regulations on walking and working surfaces. These regulations aim to prevent accidents caused by hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, clutter, corrosion, or wet surfaces (e.g., leaks, spills, snow, and ice). Such incidents are largely preventable through effective housekeeping practices, including maintaining clear walkways free of clutter, wearing proper footwear, routine cleaning, adopting safe work practices, and promptly identifying and marking slip or trip hazards.
The following are safe work practices to help foster a safe work environment and reduce the risk of workplace injuries related to slips, trips, and falls in your work area:
- Maintain Orderly and Clean Work Areas: Keep walkways, aisles, hallways, and work areas free of unnecessary items or clutter. Properly store equipment, tools, and materials in designated areas. Address spills of liquids or other slippery substances as quickly as possible.
- Identify and Mark Hazards: Use warning signs or cones to mark hazardous or wet areas. Clearly mark stairs, ramps, or changes in elevation with signage or contrasting colors. Use slip resistant floor coverings for areas prone to moisture.
- Maintenance of Flooring and Outdoor Surfaces: Repair damaged flooring, including torn carpets and loose tiles. Remove tripping hazards, such as floor mats that do not lay flat. Ensure parking lots and walkways are free of ice, snow and water during inclement weather.
- Provide Adequate Lighting: Ensure workspaces, stairwells, and walkways are well-lit. Use additional lighting in areas with limited visibility and replace burned-out bulbs promptly.
- Use of Proper Equipment: Provide and maintain sturdy ladders for elevated tasks. Use proper footwear and use slip-resistant accessories.
Contact Facilities Operations for additional assistance or questions specific to your work area.
Resources & Forms
OSHA Standard 1910.22 - General Industry Walking-Working Surfaces
OSHA Fact Sheet
OSHA FAQs - Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment
Training
OSHA - Slips, Trips, and Falls Overview - HSI-3363
This online course educates on identifying hazardous workplace conditions and unsafe
practices that can lead to slips, trips, and falls and how to prevent incidents through
good housekeeping practices, safe behavior, and identification of corrective actions
required to eliminate hazardous walking and working surface conditions. In addition,
this course addresses how to fall properly to avoid serious injury, and how to respond
to a fall injury should one occur. Assignment of this course is overseen by the Environmental
Health and Safety (EHS) Coordinator. For further training information, contact the
EHS Coordinator at 817-257-7220 or safety@tcu.edu.