Management Plan Slips Trips and Falls

The simplest way of preventing slips, trips and falls in the workplace is to develop a risk management plan which identifies, assesses and controls and monitors safety hazards and risks. Richards Transport provides the following assessment for our warehouse. The steps are; 1. Identify hazards

Identifying hazards is the first step to determine exactly where slips, trips and falls can occur. This is done by consulting workers and supervisors, inspecting the premises, and reviewing incident and injury reports.

2. Assess the Risk

Next step is to assess the slip or trip risk. Usually it is a combination of factors that create the risk. By using the Slips, Trips and Falls Risk Management Tool this can be done. Each section helps to determine on this chart the level of risk and possible controls of that risk.

3. Fix the problem

We then need to look at the assessed risks and decide what needs to be done to eliminate or reduce the risks. There are six types of control strategies to eliminate or reduce these risks and listed below in order of effectiveness.

Hierarchy of controls | Examples | Eliminate the Hazard | Remove slip and trip hazards at the design stage such as eliminating changes in floor levels; installing more power outlets through the floor and ceiling to avoid trailing cords | Substitution | Resurface floors | Isolation | Limit access to high risk areas | Minimise risk by redesign | Apply floor treatments to increase slip resistance; improve lighting; stop leaks from equipment or pipes; provide adequate drainage to prevent pooling of contaminants; clearly mark edges of steps and any changes in floor height | Administrative controls | Implement good housekeeping practices such as clear access ways; prompt spills management; use of signage or barricades for wet or slippery areas;