Slips, Trips, and Falls

What are the Risk Factors?

• Wet floors in hallways, rooms, near sinks, and kitchen areas.
• Loose cords and cables from phones, clinical equipment and computers.
• Clutter or debris, particularly in patient or resident rooms and storage areas.
• Uneven surfaces, such as buckled carpeting and broken tile or pavement.

Injury Prevention Strategies for Slips, Trips and Falls Hazards

1. Report and clean up spills immediately and use signage to indicate wet areas.
2. Use beveled-edge or flat water-absorbent, slip-resistant mats where water, ice, soap or hand sanitizer might drip.
3. Wear slip-resistant footwear.
4. Bundle loose cords, tubes and cables and store them away from areas with foot traffic.
5. Remove clutter.
6. Report and repair damaged flooring and outdoor walking surfaces.
7. Regularly inspect indoor and outdoor walkways and parking lots.

Resources and Training Guides

Slip, Trip and Fall Protection for Healthcare Workers https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-123/pdfs/2011-123.pdf

Slips, Trips and Falls: OSHA https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/hazards/slips/slips.html