Stay Safe at Work: Essential Tips and Products to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls

Workplace safety isn't something to muck around with. According to 2023 data from Safe Work Australia (SWA), there were around 28,100 claims from accidents caused by slips, trips, and falls. These incidents rank as the second top cause of workplace injuries, just after body stressing. So, it's vital to take steps to prevent these accidents and keep your crew safe.

This article will delve into the specifics of glove certification, including HACCP, TGA, and AS/NZS standards, as well as provide a comprehensive overview of the most common glove standards and their significance.

What Counts as a Slip, Trip, and Fall?

Before diving into prevention tips, let's clear up what counts as a slip, trip, and fall:

Slips: Happen when your foot loses grip with the ground, often due to dodgy footwear or walking on slippery surfaces like polished, wet, or greasy floors.

Trips: Occur when you catch your foot on an object or uneven surface. Usual suspects include low obstacles like uneven flooring, loose mats, open drawers, untidy tools, or electrical cables.

Falls: Can result from a slip or trip but often happen from low heights such as steps, stairs, curbs, holes, ditches, or into water.

Why Bother About Workplace Safety?

Ensuring workplace safety isn't just about ticking boxes; it's about looking after your crew and keeping productivity up. 

Accidents lead to lost work hours, decreased productivity, and hefty costs from claims and legal obligations. 

The good news is that slips, trips, and falls are 100% preventable with proper education and safety measures.

How to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls at Work

1. Educate Your Workforce Safety is everyone's job. From top management to frontline workers, everyone should understand the importance of workplace safety. At the management level: Design and roll out safety procedures. Run regular training to teach workers how to spot and avoid slip, trip, and fall hazards. Make sure they have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE). At the workforce level: Ensure staff fully understand and follow safety procedures, use the right gear, and practise good safety habits daily.

2. Put Safety Measures in Place Creating a safe work environment involves a few key actions: Streamline Workflow: Map out the movement of people, materials, and equipment to cut down on rushing, overcrowding, and spills. Clear Pathways: Keep walkways clear of debris, clutter, and obstacles. Ensure even flooring and good lighting to highlight potential hazards. Outdoor Safety: Don't forget the outdoor areas; check for slippery stuff like moss or vegetation. Equipment Maintenance: Regularly check and maintain equipment to prevent leaks and loose parts. Make sure ladders, scaffolding, and other equipment are used properly. Good Housekeeping: Keep the workplace clean. Use caution signs during cleaning, avoid polish build-up on floors, and ensure no excess cleaning detergent residue.

3. Provide and Use Proper Safety Gear Using the right PPE is key to preventing slips, trips, and falls. Here’s what you need to provide: Footwear: Ensure workers wear slip-resistant shoes suitable for wet or dry conditions. Fall Protection Systems: Provide harnesses and other fall protection when needed. Safety Markings and Signs: Use visible warning signs and safety tape to highlight hazards and guide safe paths. Anti-Slip Solutions: Invest in anti-slip mats, stair treads, and other solutions to ensure solid footing.

What Basic Safety Gear Should Everyone Have?

Hazard/Barricade Tape Clearly mark hazardous areas to prevent accidents. SHOP NOW	Safety Glasses Ensure workers have clear vision with anti-fog lenses. SHOP NOW	Earplugs Provide protection in noisy environments. SHOP NOW	Respirator Masks Essential for respiratory protection in hazardous conditions. SHOP NOW

Slip-Resistant Gloves Provide a good grip in wet or oily environments. SHOP NOW	Wet floor signs and Cleaning in progress Cones Quick and temporary warning sign in the case of a spill, or slippery floor. SHOP NOW	Anti-slip and Anti-fatigue Matting Workplaces and walkways subject to constant moisture or oils, should have removable mats to provide a safe environment. SHOP NOW	Spill Kits Having the gear on hand to quickly soak up an oil spill, or other accident greatly reduces the risk of people getting hurt. SHOP NOW

The Benefits of Safety Workwear

Safety workwear is crucial for protecting workers from injuries. Properly fitting and maintaining PPE ensures that workers can do their jobs safely without hassle. It also helps in meeting occupational safety standards.

How to Reduce Common Construction Site Hazards

• Spot the Hazard: Identify potential hazards like manual tasks, untidy workplaces, and faulty machinery.
  
  
• Assess the Risk: Evaluate the likelihood and severity of these hazards.
  
  
• Fix the Problem: Use the hierarchy of controls to eliminate or reduce risks.
  
  
• Evaluate Results: Continuously review and improve safety measures.

How to Reduce Common Construction Site Hazards

Wearing safety gear is essential to protect workers from potential hazards. Proper use of PPE can prevent injuries and save lives.
Preventing slips, trips, and falls in the workplace is all about education, implementation, and the right gear. 
At Executive Distributors, we provide the best PPE and cleaning essentials to keep your team safe and your workplace up to scratch with safety standards.

Browse our essentials here

Work With Us

Work with us today and see why Executive Distributors is the trusted choice for safety supplies you need in Brisbane, Toowoomba, and Queensland. 

To learn more about Executive Distributors’ packaging supplies and solutions for Brisbane, Toowoomba, and South East Queensland, give us a call at (07) 4613 4455 or shoot us an email at sales@exd.net.au.

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