Introduction to Walking Working Surfaces

Slips, trips, and falls cause the majority of general industry accidents, accounting for 15 percent of all accidental deaths, and more fatalities than all other causes excluding motor vehicles. The majority of all workers' compensation costs are due to slips, trips, and falls, making them among the most frequent type of reported injury. In addition, falls accounted for over 8 million emergency room visits, and are the leading cause of nonfatal medically treated injuries in the U.S.

OSHA estimates the Final Rule will prevent 29 worker deaths and 5,842 lost-workday injuries each year. OSHA estimates the annual benefits, in monetary terms, of the lives saved and injuries prevented will be $614.5 million.

Fatalities and injuries resulting from slips, trips, and falls are often preventable, and they usually result from issues such as a lack of identification of hazards, inadequate training, and insufficient application of proper risk control measures.

To learn more about Walking Working Surfaces visit our Walking Working Surfaces & Personal Fall Protection Systems Online Training web page.