Slips, Trips & Falls on the Same Level
Slips, trips and falls on the same level are among the most common workplace injuries. They cause sprains, broken wrists and ankles, back injuries and head injuries, and they happen in every kind of workplace, from a muddy jobsite to a clean warehouse floor. They’re almost always preventable, and the fixes are usually cheap: a cleaner walkway, a better pair of boots, a little more light and a little more attention.
- Construction
- General Industry
Photo: cords run overhead on hooks, clear walkway, and a cleaned-up spill area
Slip, trip or fall: what’s the difference?
- A slip happens when your foot loses traction with the surface. There isn’t enough friction between your sole and the floor, so your foot slides out from under you.
- A trip happens when your foot hits something and your body keeps moving. You catch your toe on a cord, a rebar stub, a step or a change in height, and you pitch forward.
- A misstep or stumble happens when you step down onto a lower surface than you expected, or turn an ankle on uneven ground.
- A fall on the same level is what happens after any of these, when you land on the same surface you were walking on. This is different from a fall to a lower level, such as off a ladder or roof. See Fall Protection Basics for those.
Falls from a height get the headlines, but falls on the same level cause a large share of lost-time injuries. They are also a leading reason for workers’ compensation claims in many industries.
Common causes
| Cause | Examples | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wet or slick surfaces | Rain, mud, ice, snow, oil, grease, spilled drinks, wet concrete, soapy water, dew on steel decking | Clean up spills right away, use mats, sand or salt, dry surfaces before work, and mark wet areas |
| Loose material underfoot | Gravel, sawdust, sand, wood chips, loose plastic sheeting, pipe and rebar scraps | Sweep, tamp and cover loose material, and use firm walking surfaces |
| Clutter and obstacles | Cords, hoses, tools, scrap lumber, boxes, rebar stubs, trash and materials in walkways | Housekeeping, cord covers, designated storage and clear walkways |
| Uneven surfaces | Holes, ruts, curbs, broken pavement, loose boards, raised edges, thresholds, steps that don’t match | Fill, repair, cover, ramp or mark them, and report them |
| Poor lighting | Dark stairwells, basements, night work, shadows, glare | Add temporary lighting, replace bulbs and use headlamps |
| Footwear | Worn-out soles, smooth soles, untied laces, wet boots with packed mud | Slip-resistant boots in good condition, cleaned off before climbing steps |
| Human factors | Rushing, carrying a load you can’t see around, phone use, fatigue, distractions, medications or impairment | Slow down, plan the route, carry smaller loads and stay focused |
Slip prevention
- Clean up spills immediately, or mark them with a cone or sign until they’re cleaned. Don’t walk away from a spill, even if it’s “not yours.” See Spill Response.
- Control water and oil at the source. Fix leaks, use drip pans and place mats at entrances so people don’t track water in.
- Treat ice and snow with sand, salt or deicer, and clear walkways, ramps and stairs before shifts start. Re-check after the temperature changes.
- Scrape mud off your boots before you climb steps, ladders or ramps. Packed mud can make soles as slick as ice.
- Use the right flooring or walking surface: textured treads, grating, mats or planks over mud.
- Wear slip-resistant boots with good tread. See below.
- Take short, flat-footed steps on slippery surfaces, with your feet pointed slightly outward and your arms free for balance. Slow down on ice and wet metal.
Trip prevention
- Keep walkways and work areas clear. OSHA requires work areas and passageways to be kept free of debris, scrap and clutter (29 CFR 1926.25 for construction and 1910.22 for general industry). See Housekeeping.
- Run cords and hoses overhead on hooks, or along walls and edges. Where they must cross a path, use cord covers or ramps.
- Mark or guard changes in height, such as a single step, a lip or a drop-off, with paint, tape or a ramp.
- Cap or cover rebar and other protruding objects. See Holes & Floor Openings for covers.
- Store materials in marked areas, off walking paths, and stack them so they can’t fall into walkways.
- Pick up as you go. Put tools and trash where they belong, and don’t leave things “just for a minute.”
- Open and close drawers, doors and hatches fully and promptly.
Footwear
- Choose boots with slip-resistant soles suited to your work: oil-resistant for shops and kitchens, deep lugs for mud and gravel, and soft rubber compounds for wet or icy surfaces. See Foot Protection.
- Look for a rating or a test claim for slip resistance on the label. Some boots are tested using ASTM F2913. Ratings help compare boots, but no boot grips every surface.
- Check soles regularly. Worn tread or a hardened sole means less grip. Replace boots before the tread is gone.
- Keep laces tied and tucked in so they can’t catch.
- Add ice cleats or traction devices in winter, and take them off before walking on smooth indoor floors, where they can slip. See Ice Cleats.
Lighting and visibility
People trip on what they can’t see. OSHA’s construction lighting table (29 CFR 1926.56) sets minimum levels, for example about 5 foot-candles for general construction areas, more for shops and 30 for first aid stations and offices. Light the stairs, stairwells, basements, trench approaches and accessways, replace burned-out bulbs, and use headlamps or work lights for night work. See Night Work Lighting. Glare, deep shadow and bright-to-dark transitions also hide hazards, so give your eyes a moment to adjust.
Stairs, ramps and carrying loads
- Use handrails on stairs and keep one hand free. Don’t carry loads that block your view of your feet.
- Look at where you’re stepping and don’t take stairs two at a time or while looking at your phone.
- Make two trips, use a cart or ask for help rather than overloading yourself.
- Keep ramps and stairs clear of material and keep ramp surfaces textured.
Weather and the jobsite
- Mud and rain: lay planks, mats or gravel on main paths. Wet steel decking, plywood and formwork are very slick.
- Winter: treat paths first thing, keep entrances dry, and watch for black ice and refreezing at night. Plan for extra time to walk safely. See Cold Stress.
- Heat: fatigue and dizziness make stumbles more likely. See Heat Illness.
- Uneven ground: look for holes, stakes, rebar, stumps and loose rocks, and step carefully on slopes. See Slopes & Unstable Ground.
Employer duties
- Keep walking-working surfaces clean, orderly, sanitary and free of hazards such as spills, loose objects and holes (29 CFR 1910.22), and inspect them regularly.
- Keep construction work areas and passageways free of debris and scrap (1926.25).
- Provide adequate lighting, and correct hazards when workers report them.
- Give training on recognizing and reporting hazards. See Employer Responsibilities.
If you fall
- Stop and check yourself before you get up. Don’t move if you have neck, back or head pain, numbness or dizziness. Call for help.
- Report every fall, even if you feel fine. Some injuries show up hours later. See First Aid Basics.
- Take a quick look at what caused it. Fix it if you can, or mark it and tell someone, so the next person doesn’t fall too.
- Employers should investigate, even for minor falls and near misses. See Incident Investigation.
Daily walk-through checklist
- Walkways, stairs and ramps are clear, dry and well lit
- Cords and hoses are overhead or covered
- Spills, mud, ice and snow are cleaned or treated
- Holes, ruts, rebar stubs and height changes are covered, capped or marked
- Materials and scrap are stored away from paths
- My boots have good tread and my laces are tied
- I’m carrying loads I can see over, with one hand free for the rail
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1926.25: Housekeeping
- 29 CFR 1910.22: Walking-working surfaces
- 29 CFR 1926.56: Illumination
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