Best Practice - Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

Examples of how to prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace.

Areas

General external areas Back to top

Steps - edges highlighted, good lighting, handrails

High level areas - edge protection provided where person could fall from a high level to a lower level

Footpaths - clear, in good condition, no obstructions, drain covers and plates level with surface, kerb has contrast colour with footpath

Water drainage - drains and gulleys kept clear and free of leaves, dirt and other debris

Lighting at night - walkways well lit, clear of obstacles

Raised areas - colour/material contrast on edge of raised areas

Building entrances Back to top

Canopies - reduce ingress of water and dirt

Handrails on steps - provides support

Ramps - handrails and slip resistant treatment reduces slipping

Lighting - entrances clearly lit at night, step edges visible

Steps edges - highlighted

Tapered/raised external edges near entrance - highlighted

Grit/salt - ready supply for snow and icy conditions

Internal staircases Back to top

Standard/narrow staircases - handrail fitted

Wide staircases - additional centre handrail provides extra support

Stair edges - highlighted

Stair access/egress - staircases and landings kept clear, no protrusions through handrails

Lighting - good levels of lighting including emergency lighting where little natural lighting

Internal Ramps Back to top

Long internal ramps - handrails and slip resistant flooring

Small sloping areas - where surface all one colour, highlighted to show slope

Temporary/moveable ramps - clearly highlighted, slip resistant material on surface

Internal single steps Back to top

Hidden steps - steps highlighted where changes in level are unexpected (e.g directly behind a door). Ideally warning sign on door.

Corridors - kept clear of unecessary items, clear width maintained, no protrusions or tripping hazards, dry, good lighting

Foyer/reception areas Back to top

Foyers - clear, dry, seating stored safely

Matting - long matting at entrance reduce carry through of water

Umbrella stands at entrances - reduces carry through of water

Seating areas Back to top

General housekeeping - seats stored safely/put under tables, good access/egress maintained, floors dry and clear

Refuse/recycling bins - adequate number, not overflowing and emptied regularly

Lighting - natural lighting where possible otherwise good levels of artificial lighting

Teaching/meeting rooms Back to top

General housekeeping - kept in good order, chairs under tables when finished in room, etc. no paper/documents left on tables or floors.

Cable control - if rooms cannot be designed such that cables do not have to cut across walkways, cable covers should be used.

Lighting - natural where possible; artifical lighting all in working order

Lecture theatres Back to top

Access/egress - steps and walkways clear. Steps have clear nosings.

Cable control - where cables across walkways are unavoidable, cables secured and clearly highlighted

General housekeeping - floors clear, no paper or documents left in area

Lighting - good level of lighting (natural if possible), all lights in working order

Spillage prevention - drinks and food not allowwed in lecture theatre areas

Office environments Back to top

General housekeeping - floors clear of items, walkways kept clear

Lighting - natural lighting where possible or good articifical lighting. Artifical lighting should be fitted with louvres that give a good spread of light across the working area.

Cable control - if the office cannot be designed such that cables are not out in the open then they should either be covered with clearly marked cable cover or kept out of the way of by securing.

Storage - adequate shelving, cupboards etc. to keep items off the floor. NB - nothing stored on top of cupboards.

Laboratories Back to top

Under construction

Kitchen/food preparation areas Back to top

Under construction

Falls from height Back to top

Falls from openable windows - additional protection across windows or sash restrictors fitted in runners to reduce window opening.

Roof work - ideally, restricted access to roof. Roof edge either has wall or handrail as edge protection.

External staircases - handrails along the length of the steps

Scaffolding - double handrails on each lift; gates at access points; closeable hatches over access points on lifts

Working platforms - use of properly designed access platforms, steps or stools for working at height

The University of Liverpool