Slips, Trips, & Falls

Slips occur when there is too little friction or traction between your feet (or footwear) and the working surface, which results in a loss of balance. Common contributing causes of slips include:

• Wet (such as water, oil, grease, soap) or dry (like dust, granules, spilled nuts and bolts) contamination on the work surface
• Loose or unsecured ladder
• Uneven or inconsistent traction on the work surface

Trips occur when your foot or leg strikes an object, resulting in a loss of balance. In a trip incident, your lower body hits an obstruction while your upper body continues to move forward. Common contributing causes of trips include:

• Uneven stairs or work surfaces
• Obstructed views
• Clutter

Even the slightest difference in the rise of a step or rung of a ladder can cause a person to trip and fall.

Falls occur when you are too far off your center of balance. Both slips and trips can lead to falls.

To learn more about Ladder & Stairway Safety visit our Ladder & Stairway Safety Online Training web page.