Slips and trips can be serious, often resulting in broken or dislocated bones, and long absences from work. They are the cause of about 20% of all injuries in motor vehicle repair (MVR).
There are ways you can reduce the risks of slips and trips, these can include:
- providing and maintaining level floors, free from holes and with non-slip surfaces
- marking gangways and keeping them clear
- keeping work areas tidy, for example putting parts and equipment away
- preventing spillages of oil/grease, for example stand oil drums on drip trays
- providing materials for cleaning up spill, for example clean spills up immediately
- avoiding trailing leads
- ensuring suitable footwear is worn (caution - 'safety footwear' may not mean 'non-slip footwear')
Examples of slips and trips incidents
Here are some examples of how and why slips and trips incidents have occurred.
Water carried in on footwear - a quality control supervisor slipped down a flight of 3 wooden steps located just inside the entrance to the vehicle repair shop. It was raining and the steps were wet from the water carried in on footwear. They lost their footing and, as a result of the fall, fractured his left collarbone. They were off work for 2 months.
Failing to notice a connecting towrope - a showroom salesman was walking across the garage forecourt and failed to notice a connecting towrope between 2 parked cars. They tripped over the rope and fell, breaking their elbow.
Obstructing view of the floor - a mechanic was carrying a large drip tray that obstructed their view of the floor. As they passed through a doorway they tripped over a trailing cable, injuring their back.
Walking through diesel spillage - a garage foreman fractured their leg when they slipped down some stairs shortly after walking through a small diesel spillage.
Failing to clear a spill up - a fitter spilt some oil on the floor which they failed to clear up. Later that day they slipped on the oil and fell awkwardly, fracturing their wrist.
Unsuitable tiles for outdoor conditions - an elderly customer slipped while walking across a wet garage forecourt, fracturing a kneecap and injuring his back. The tiles that were not suitable for outdoor conditions.