Fighting For the Rights of Injured Workers For Over 25 Years

How common are slip-and-fall injuries and can they be prevented?

On Behalf of | Nov 5, 2021 | Workplace injuries

It is easy to see how working at heights at a construction site or working with heavy machinery in a warehouse could cause workplace injuries. However, along with factories and construction sites, retail stores and offices in New York City could present slip, trip and fall dangers leading to serious work injuries.

How often to falls, slips and trips occur?

Falls, slips and trips are common workplace injuries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that fall injuries caused workers to miss work in 244,000 incidents in the U.S. in 2019 alone. Slip-and-fall injuries could be caused by a spill on the floor, torn carpeting, uneven stairs, tripping hazards in walkways and, in the winter, icy sidewalks and parking lots.

The construction industry saw a significant number of fall, slip and trip incidents. In that industry in 2019, 25,460 injuries were reported in the U.S. However, an additional 72,000 other injuries in other sectors of the workforce in 2019 were due to slips, trips and falls. Natural resources and mining, construction, trade, transportation and utilities were the industries with the highest incidences of slips, trips and falls.

What can be done to prevent slips, trips and falls?

Employers can take a variety of steps to prevent slips, trips and falls. First, any spills should be cleaned up immediately. After cleaning, a “wet floor” sign should be put in place at the area of the spill. Nonskid tape and handrails should be placed on steps or walkways that are often utilized. Finally, employers should require employees to wear shoes with nonstick soles. These are simple precautions. Employers who fail to take these precautions could face legal action brought by employees who suffer a slip-and-fall injury on the job.

Preventing slips, trips and falls is an important part of keeping employees safe at the workplace. Workers who are injured in a slip-and-fall incident at work may want to determine what their legal options are, so they can pursue the compensation they need to make ends meet financially until they have recovered from their injury.

Archives