Los Angeles Slip and Fall Legal Guide

Slips and trips result from unintended or unexpected change in
the contact between the feet and the ground or walking surface.
Good housekeeping, quality of walking surfaces, selection of
proper footwear, and appropriate pace of walking are critical for
preventing fall accidents. Slip, trip and fall prevention is a
responsibility we all share.

Slips
Slips happen where there is too little friction or traction between
footwear and the walking surface. Common causes of slips are:

• wet, smooth-soled or high-heeled shoes

• wet or slippery surfaces from occasional spills or weather

hazards

• loose papers, debris or mats

• a change in the traction of walking surfaces

Slip Prevention

Reduce your risk of slipping:

• take your time and pay attention to where you are going

• wear footwear appropriate to the activity, environment & season

• adjust your stride to a pace that is suitable for the walking

surface and the tasks you are doing

• walk with the feet pointed slightly outward for balance

• make wide turns at corners

• clean or draw attention to all spills immediately

• mop or sweep debris from floors

Flooring

Changing or modifying walking surfaces is the next level of preventing slip and trips. Recoating or replacing floors, installing mats, pressure-sensitive abrasive strips or abrasive-filled paint-on coating and metal or synthetic decking can further improve safety and reduce risk of falling. However, it is critical to remember that high-tech flooring requires good housekeeping as much as any other flooring. In addition, resilient, non-slippery flooring prevents or reduces foot fatigue and contributes to slip prevention measures.

Footwear

In workplaces where floors may be oily or wet or where workers spend considerable time outdoors, prevention of fall accidents should focus on selecting proper footwear. Since there is no footwear with anti-slip properties for every condition, consultation with manufacturers' is highly recommended.

Properly fitting footwear increases comfort and prevents fatigue which, in turn, improves safety for the employee.

What can you do to avoid falling at work?

It is important remembering that safety is everybody business. However, it is employers' responsibility to provide safe work environment for all employees. Employees can improve their own safety too.

You can reduce the risk of slipping on wet flooring by:

• taking your time and paying attention to where you are going,
• adjusting your stride to a pace that is suitable for the walking surface and the tasks you are doing,
• walking with the feet pointed slightly outward, and
• making wide turns at corners.

You can reduce the risk of tripping by:

• always using installed light sources that provide sufficient light for your tasks or,
• using a flashlight if you enter a dark room where there is no light, and
• ensuring that things you are carrying or pushing do not prevent you from seeing any obstructions, spills, etc.