Slips, trips and falls cost businesses over $11 billion per year. Does your company have the right preventive measures in place?
The stats
According to the National Safety Council, slips, trips and falls are one of the most common and costly workplace incidents across all industries. In fact, they account for 35 percent of incidents, 36 percent of emergency department visits and 65 percent of lost workdays. Additionally and more staggering, OSHA says slips, trips and falls account for 15 percent of all accidental deaths, second only to automobile fatalities.
The cause
The most common causes of slip, trip and fall accidents are poor walking/working surfaces (55 percent) due to slippery conditions from contamination, fluid discharge, splatter or spillage of liquids, leaking lubricating oils and greases, leaking chemicals, etc. As such, the potential business liability for these types of incidents is very high. Slips, trips and falls are a problem not only for employees but also for customers, vendors and visitors; even the general public can be at risk.
The cost
The total cost burden to businesses for workplace injuries and illnesses was nearly $60 billion in 2014, according to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index. Slips and trips (without fall) and falls (same level) accounted for over $11 billion of that total, or almost 20 percent.
Adding to this cost is the fact an employee suffering from a slip, trip or fall incident misses an average of 38 work-days, costing millions of dollars to organizations in lost productivity while also driving up insurance costs.
Considering the average cost for a slip, trip or fall injury is $20,000, while the cost to defend a slip or fall claim is $50,000, it makes sense companies need to ensure they have appropriate safety practices and programs in place to address and prevent these injuries.
The solution
The good news is a majority of slip, trip and fall incidents are preventable. The basic precautions are simple and cost-effective: good housekeeping, proper footwear, and clean and dry walking surfaces. Putting these precautions in place boils down to a focus on two core safety practices: general housekeeping and spill management.
First, keeping a workspace clean and orderly is the first line of defense against slips, trips, falls and other workspace and workplace incidents. Second, having a responsive and effective spill management program that quickly identifies, contains and absorbs a spill is critical in reducing the potential for these types of incidents. Whether using loose absorbent, containment socks or emergency spill kits, the key is to institute a spill management practice that all employees can understand and implement. The results can generate a strong return on investment in injury prevention.
Note: OSHA has set standards and regulations for walking/working surfaces that apply to permanent places of employment. Visit www.OSHA.gov for information on Regulation 29 CFR 1910.22.
For more information, visit www.petro-vac.com or www.webbritesafety.com, call (844) 894-2484 or (225) 383-3903, or email info@petro-vac.com.
