Author: Tiffany Dothard, Assistant Director, EHSO
Slips, trips, and falls can lead to serious injuries such as sprains, fractures, back injuries, and even traumatic brain injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they are leading cause of all accidental deaths in the workplace, second only to motor vehicle accidents.
With such a wide-ranging and active campus community – including students, faculty, staff, and visitors – it’s important for everyone to remain alert to potential hazards. From classrooms and laboratories to mechanical rooms and outdoor walkways, the variety of environments we navigate each day presents unique safety challenges and opportunities for prevention.
Understanding the Risks
Knowing how slips, trips, and falls occur is the first step in preventing them. Slips happen when there is too little traction between your footwear and the walking surface, often due to water, oil, or other spills. Trips occur when your foot strikes an object or uneven surface, causing a loss of balance. Falls result when you lose your balance and can’t steady yourself before landing on the floor or ground.
Whether you are heading to class, working in a lab, or maintaining campus facilities, it is important to stay alert to common slip, trip, and fall hazards. No matter your role on campus, here are some everyday risks to be aware of:
- Wet or oily floors in restrooms, dining areas, kitchens, or laboratories – especially after cleaning or spills.
- Loose cords, cables, or clutter in offices, classrooms, or hallways.
- Poor lighting in stairwells, storage areas, or mechanical rooms that makes it hard to see obstacles.
- Damaged or uneven flooring, such as torn carpets or cracked tiles increases the risk of tripping.
- Improper use of ladders or standing on unstable furniture to reach high places.
- Improper footwear, like smooth-soled shoes on wet or uneven surfaces.
- Distractions while walking, such as texting, looking at your phone, or wearing headphones, can prevent you from noticing hazards in your path.
Best Practices for Prevention
Maintain good housekeeping. Keep walkways clear of clutter, cords, and debris. Secure rugs and mats to prevent curling or bunching and clean up spills immediately or mark them with wet floor signs if cleanup is delayed.
Improve visibility. Report burned-out lights promptly, use additional lighting in dim areas like storage rooms or stairwells, and avoid carrying loads that block your view while walking.
Report slip, trip, and fall hazards and ensure they are clearly marked. Use yellow paint or signage to highlight elevation changes and report areas where signage is missing or unclear. If you see slip, trip, and fall hazards such as holes in utility covers, damaged sections on bridges and sidewalks, algae growing on stairs or sidewalks, or damage flooring – submit a work request to Campus Services at campserv.emory.edu or report the hazards to EHSO at ehso.emory.edu.
Use proper equipment. Always use ladders or stepstools—never chairs or desks—to reach high areas. Note: Ladder safety training is required before using any ladder to ensure safe and proper use. Inspect ladders and stepstools before use to ensure they are in good condition. Rolling chairs should have five legs and appropriate wheels for the flooring type.
Wear the right footwear. Choose shoes with slip-resistant soles, especially in wet or outdoor areas, and replace shoes that have worn-out treads or poor grip.
Use caution on stairs. Stairs are a common location for slips, trips, and falls—especially when people are distracted or in a hurry. To stay safe, always use handrails when going up or down, even for just a few steps. Take your time and avoid rushing, as moving too quickly increases the risk of missteps. Keep stairways clear of items such as bags or boxes. Avoid distractions like texting or looking at your phone while using stairs, and stay alert for uneven steps, loose carpeting, or slick surfaces, particularly in wet or icy conditions.
Use caution when traversing campus. Be mindful of foot placement while traversing campus. Always stay on designated walkways, such as sidewalks and paved paths. Avoid taking shortcuts through areas like pine straw or uneven terrain. Scan the walking path to ensure it is free of any slip, trip, and fall hazards. When walking, it is recommended that you focus several feet ahead of you to ensure proper foot placement. This provides an opportunity to adjust your stride and foot placement for obstacles that may be present in the walking path, including curbs or other changes in elevation or terrain.
Watch your step when getting on and off campus buses. This is very important, especially during rainy or icy weather. Use the handrail to steady yourself, wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching or standing to exit, and avoid distractions like phones or headphones when navigating steps or curbs near transit stops.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about slip, trip and fall safety, contact EHSO at ehso@emory.edu.