Slips, Trips, and Falls

Walkway Safety and Walking-Working Surfaces

Slips, trips, and falls cause the majority of general industry workplace accidents and cost employers billions of dollars each year in lost productivity and business. The good news is that many of these injuries can be prevented by following the OSHA walking-working surface regulations and adopting safe work practices.

While falls from elevated locations to lower levels represent the greatest danger, even falls on sidewalks and in hallways can cause serious injuries like bone fractures. Walking while distracted, such as using a handheld electronic device, increases the risk of injury.

While falls are more likely to occur in some environments compared to others, falls can happen anywhere and at any time. Employers and employees alike can make a difference in helping to prevent injuries and fatalities from slips, trips, and falls.

OSHA regulates slips, trips and falls under Subpart D, "Walking-Working Surfaces." These requirements apply to all general industry workplaces. It also covers all walking and work surfaces within these workplaces regardless of operations, including floors, aisles, stairs, ladders, platforms, roofs, etc.

Under these regulations, employers are required to identify and evaluate slip, trip, and fall hazards and provide appropriate personal protective equipment, conduct regular and periodic inspections and maintenance of all walking and work surfaces in their workplace, and provide training that enables employees to recognize the hazards of falling and the procedures to be followed to minimize these hazards.

This can be a real challenge for employers, but these requirements provide critical steps in reducing or eliminating slip hazards, trip hazards, and fall hazards in your workplace.