Accidents cost the business a lot. They cost you the productivity of the employee who’s out of commission, they cost you some potentially step legal business fees, and they cost the trust of a team who may no longer believe you have an interest in their wellbeing. Slips, trips, and falls are amongst the most common workplace accidents of all, so it’s cost-effective to do what you can to ensure they don’t happen. Here’s how you do that.

Keep it clean

Rule number one is to always mind where your employees are likely to be walking. A cleaner safer workplace is one that’s much less prone to slips, trips, and falls. Make sure that any spills are cleaned up as soon as possible, with warning signs placed where necessary. Mark walkways off to ensure your team knows not to clutter them and make it a rule to not leave drawers and cabinets open as these can be a risk, too.

Stand on solid ground

In areas where people are moving around a lot, such as warehouses and manufacturing environments, you need to make sure that your team has good footing. In areas where people are moving around a lot, such as warehouses and manufacturing environments, you need to make sure that your team has good footing. If they’re transporting goods, moving boxes, or otherwise busy with their hands, industrial non-slip mats can keep them on solid ground – always keep considerations like this forefront in your mind.. You should also ensure that they have high-quality work boots to give them that grip they need.

Accessibility is key

Not all of your team’s work may be done on the ground. For instance, in many a warehouse, there will be shelves that require height to reach. How you provide that access is crucial to their safety. Rather than simple ladders, safety steps keep your team safe at heights. Similarly, make sure that any raised platforms have the right barriers and boundaries so there’s less chance of them falling and hurting themselves seriously.

Visibility is essential

No matter where your team is, making sure that they have the lighting necessary to see where they’re going is crucial. All walkways should be well-lit, so that team members are better able to see potential risks such as spills and clutter. Using long-lasting LED lights can reduce the chances of blown lights, but any lights that stop working need to be replaced as soon as possible to reduce downtime. Similarly, if they’re working in an environment outside your control, equip them with their own portable lighting to help them stay safe.

Mind the exterior

While most of the tripping hazards may be found inside the business property, there are likely some to be found outside. For businesses with trees or bushes on the exterior property, hiring an arborist can make sure that they’re kept neat and tidy, making walkways clean and ensuring less debris to slip on. Make sure you treat the ground to get rid of snow and ice in the winter, as well.

Addressing the real risk of slips, trips, and falls is the first step to the workplace health and safety plan you need. Hopefully, you not only prevent those tumbles with the tips above, but it also gives you some ideas on how to address other potential threats.