Steps to Avoid a Work-Related Fall

A fall is one of the most likely accidents to occur in nearly every job environment, from warehouse stocking through retail sales and office work. As individuals, companies, and the U.S. government alike come to a greater consciousness of the personal and monetary consequences of fall-related accidents, more information on how to best avoid this risk is becoming available. Below are a few simple ways in which companies and employees alike can reduce the danger of slips, trips, and falls.

Behavioral Prevention

The first and most important step in preventing falls is awareness. Thousands of on-the-job injuries are the result of bad habits – running or walking too fast, failing to use handrails, improper footgear, or carrying excessive loads on staircases can all be considered part of this category.

Simply slowing down and paying attention to your surroundings will greatly reduce the possibility of a fall, helping you to identify risks and develop safe work habits in general. Staying informed about your working conditions and learning the proper ways to dress for the work you do are also important behavior-based ways of minimizing injury.

Environmental Prevention

Although personal habits are the most surefire way to prevent accidents, adequate environmental safety measures are vitally important as well, especially in settings where manual labor makes the probability of a fall more likely or serious. Examples of basic safety measures include:

• Proper signage alerting employees to slippery conditions
• Yellow striping used to indicate walking and working zones
• Using slip-resistant material to increase traction on slick surfaces
• For those working at elevations, safety gear such as harnesses, belts, and protective cages

In addition to these warning and protective measures, the integrity of any and all equipment being used in the workplace, from ladders to scaffolding, is absolutely essential.

Contact Us

Avoiding slips and falls on the job is a responsibility shared by employee and employer. If you or someone you know has been injured by a fall in the workplace and suspect the employer failed to meet educational or environmental safety expectations, contact the Chicago slip and fall accident lawyers of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C. at 312-466-8200 today.