A simple trip can have a big impact.

A simple trip can have a big impact.

Posted by Jesse Perez on 15th Aug 2016

                     

Trips and falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries in all workplaces. All workplaces mean all workplaces; just because you find yourself working in an office doesn’t mean you are in the clear. Trips can put companies in some financial trouble, and can have other negative impacts for the business.

Lowered morale.

Imagine if you work somewhere where people falling was a norm. Would you think to yourself “I should work faster to avoid falling”? Most likely not. If slipping and falling seems to happen around you, your natural instinct would be to slow down. When everyone is too busy worrying about falling the overall morale of the group is going to go down. With lowered morale comes lowered productivity.

Cost.

Lowered productivity in the workplace means a company is making less money. If OSHA catches wind of an employee having been injured because of a slip or trip, you can bet good money on OSHA showing up to see what precautions the company took to prevent it. Chances are if an employee was injured due to falling, then that company did not take the appropriate measures for fall prevention. Not taking the appropriate measures means fines from OSHA. There are other ways a simple trip can cost a company big:


  • Needing a replacement for an injured employee
  • Raises cost of workers comp
  • Lawsuits
  • Product or equipment being broken due to tripping or slipping. 


The National Safety Council did a study and found that the average cost of medical bills and worker’s compensation from trips alone was $70 billion dollars a year.

Prevention.

Tripping is preventable: make sure your workplace is clean, watch where you’re going and your good to go.

A slip, however, is a bit tricky. Depending on what work is being done and the type of material that is falling on the ground 2 things can be done to prevent slips:


1). Putting Matting on your floor is one way to go. Safety matting is specifically designed to work with the employees. Made with anti-slip and anti-fatigue materials, these are made with the employee's comfort and safety in mind.


2). Anti-slip tapes can go where mating can't. Stair cases are usually where you find these but you can also use them in areas that might need more grip. They are low profile and some come in photo luminescent material in case you need to make your way through a dark hallway. 


Calolympic Safety wants to keep your employees upright. We offer matting and anti-slip tapes at great pricing. We have the knowledge to help you in choosing the right anti- slip material for your company.