Slips, Trips, & Fall Prevention Month
November is widely recognized as Fall Prevention Month or Slips, Trips, and Fall Prevention Month by various organizations, particularly in the context of workplace safety and public health. This annual campaign encourages organizations and individuals to focus on preventing injuries caused by slips, trips, and falls in both occupational and personal settings.
Key Aspects of Slips, Trips, and Fall Prevention Month:
- Promotes Awareness: The primary goal is to promote awareness of the risks associated with falls and to encourage proactive prevention efforts.
- Workplace Safety Focus: Slips, trips, and falls are a leading cause of workplace injuries, and the month is often highlighted to train workers on safety measures, especially in industries like construction, where the risk is high.
- Seasonal Relevance: November marks the beginning of the winter season in many regions, which introduces weather-related hazards like snow, ice, and wet surfaces that increase the risk of slips and falls outdoors.
- Focus on Older Adults: Fall prevention is also a major public health initiative, as falls are common in older adults and can severely impact their independence and quality of life.
Common Prevention Strategies
- Environmental Hazards
- Clean up Spills: Address all spills and wet areas immediately.
- Clear Walkways: Keep floors, stairs, and aisles clear of clutter, tools, cables, and debris.
- Improve Lighting: Ensure all areas, especially stairs and walkways, are well-lit.
- Secure Surfaces: Use non-slip mats, especially on slippery floors, and fix loose floor mats or upturned edges.
- Personal Safety
- Proper Footwear: Wear well-fitting shoes with good support
- and non-slip soles, especially in winter conditions.
- Maintain Attention: Avoid distractions, such as using a phone while walking, especially on stairs or uneven surfaces.
- Use Aids: Always use handrails on stairs. Install and use grab bars in bathrooms and near steps.
- Health & Wellness
- Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity, such as walking or Tai Chi, to build balance, strength, and flexibility.
- Medical Review: Regularly review medications with a doctor to discuss side effects like dizziness or sleepiness that could increase fall risk.
- Vision/Hearing: Have eyesight and hearing checked regularly, as impairment can contribute to falls.
Safety Tip Challenge:
We recommend using the “See It, Fix It, Report It” Hazard Hunt Challenge. This challenge encourages all employees to act as safety inspectors by finding and either immediately fixing minor hazards (such as clutter or small spills) or formally reporting major ones (like broken lighting or loose railings) using a shared system. Before launching, ensure you review your company’s standards and protocols so employees know exactly where and how to submit these hazard reports.
