Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls in Healthcare Settings
In the health care industry, slips, trips, and falls are common causes of injuries among employees. This article discusses the top causes of such incidents, including maintenance and environmental factors, and provides solutions to mitigate risks. By addressing issues like poor lighting, surface irregularities, and tripping hazards, healthcare facilities can create a safer environment for workers and patients alike.
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Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls in the Health Care Industry GTRI_B- #
Defining the Problem Breakdown of Hospital Employee Injuries by Type Source: BLS 2009 GTRI_B- #
Top Causes of Healthcare Worker Slips, Trips, and Falls Maintenance/ Environment Housekeeping Equipment Stepstools and ladders Floor contaminants Poor drainage Stairs and handrails Surface irregularities Inadequate lighting Weather conditions Tripping hazards Flooring surfaces Mats GTRI_B- #
Housekeeping Causes Solutions Contaminants: Housekeeping / Organization procedures: Water, grease, oil, fluid, food Keep floors clean and dry Keep walkways clear Tripping Hazards: Develop mopping procedures Hoses, cords, medical tubing, materials, debris 5S Use mats where appropriate Wear slip resistant shoes Use cord organizers, covers, cable ties Position cones and barricades around hazardous areas GTRI_B- #
Maintenance/ Environment Causes Stairs/ handrails: Drainage issues: Damage Misaligned pipes Improper or inadequate installation Clogged drains Poor marking Downspouts pointing into walkways Inadequate lighting Surface irregularities (indoor and outdoor): Weather: Warped/ buckled carpets Rain Curled mats Ice Damaged flooring Snow Holes/ cracks GTRI_B- #
Maintenance/ Environment Solutions Add additional handrails Create visual cues for elevation changes Drainage issues: Inadequate lighting: Inspect and maintain pipes and drains Install additional light fixtures and/ or brighter bulbs Reroute downspouts to non-pedestrian areas Surface irregularities (indoor and outdoor): Replace dead bulbs Use fixtures that emit light from all sides Replace/ re-stretch warped or buckled carpet Weather: Replace curled/ torn mats and secure edges to the floor Promptly remove ice and snow from walking areas Fill/ patch/ cover any indoor and outdoor holes, cracks, gaps, etc. Distribute winter weather warnings Place labeled bins with ice-melt chemicals Stairs/ handrails: Utilize additional matts Repair any damaged stairs and handrails Slip-resistant footwear for outdoor workers Verify slip resistance of stair treads Keep the surfaces clean and dry GTRI_B- #
Equipment Causes Solutions Improper use of stepstools and ladders Stepstools and ladders: Train employees on proper selection and use Flooring surfaces: Provide adequate equipment Selection Place damaged equipment out of service Condition Flooring surfaces: Mats: Measure surface friction for high traffic areas Incorrect type Apply friction coatings or install new flooring Inadequate size/ length Maintain floors per manufacturers instruction Poor placement Mats: Select appropriate mat for application Ensure adequate length and size Place additional mats during severe weather Secure mats from moving GTRI_B- #
Put it all together Develop a program Plan - Review your injuries and incidents - Perform a baseline hazard survey - Set goals Act Do - Train your employees - Develop and implement housekeeping procedures - Perform routine inspections - Address any physical hazards - Determine the root cause of any gaps between performance and expectations - Implement a plan to bridge the gaps Check - Review your injuries and incidents - Review your inspection reports - Compare with your goals GTRI_B- #
It does work Worker s compensation slip, trip and fall injury rates over time Source: Bell et al. 2008 GTRI_B- #
Resources/ References NIOSH Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention for Healthcare Workers http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-123/pdfs/2011- 123.pdf OSHA Healthcare Slips, Trips, and Falls eTool https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/hazards/slips/s lips.html Bell et. Al - Evaluation of a comprehensive slip, trip and fall prevention programme for hospital employees. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18932056 GTRI_B- #
Questions? GTRI_B- #
