Slips, Trips, and Falls Prevention Training Program for Employees

This program is an interactive course that teaches employees how to recognize and avoid slip, trip and fall hazards. It covers safe practices for floors, walkways, stairways, ladders and other elevated surfaces. WorkWise’s module is designed to help employers comply with OSHA’s Walking & Working Surfaces standards and includes acknowledgement forms and a compliance guide.

Slips, trips and falls are a leading cause of preventable injuries and lost workdays. WorkWise notes that hazards like wet floors, obstructed aisleways and protruding objects contribute to most preventable lost‑work accidents. Training employees to recognize and remove hazards helps reduce injury rates, workers’ compensation costs and liability and ensures compliance with OSHA standards.

The training is designed for anyone who could be exposed to slips, trips or falls. All employees, contractors and supervisors who walk through the facility benefit from learning how to recognize hazards and use safe practices. OSHA requires employers to train workers whose job duties expose them to walking and working surfaces.

Construction workers, warehouse staff, janitorial employees, healthcare workers and food‑service staff often work on wet or uneven surfaces. OSHA reports that falls are the leading cause of death in construction, with 421 fatal falls in 2023. Any role that involves walking on slippery floors, climbing ladders or working at heights faces increased risk.

Common causes include wet or oily floors, uneven walking surfaces, loose rugs, protruding objects, poor lighting, obstructed aisles and improper use of ladders. WorkWise notes that improper housekeeping and obstructed walkway aisles contribute to preventable accidents. Identifying and removing these hazards reduces incidents.

Employers should conduct job hazard analyses to identify hazards before tasks begin. The WorkWise Job Hazard Analysis form helps document potential dangers such as spills, clutter and uneven surfaces. Regular inspections of floors, stairs and ladders, reviewing incident reports and soliciting employee feedback also help identify problem areas.

Effective measures include installing non‑skid flooring, repairing uneven surfaces, marking edges, using guardrails on elevated platforms and providing fall protection where required. Educating workers, enforcing safe footwear policies and establishing clean‑up procedures also reduce risks. OSHA standards require employers to maintain walking surfaces and provide protective equipment.

Good housekeeping is essential. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety advises immediately cleaning spills, marking wet areas, keeping walkways clear, securing rugs and cords, and replacing burned‑out lightsccohs.ca. Without good housekeeping, other measures like special flooring or footwear lose effectiveness.

Footwear with slip‑resistant soles increases traction on wet or greasy surfaces. Employers should choose shoes appropriate for their industry and environment. In areas with chemical hazards, boots should also be resistant to chemicals and provide ankle support. PPE such as harnesses or lanyards may be needed for elevated work surfaces to prevent falls.

Spills must be cleaned immediately and the area marked until dry. Employers should provide absorbent materials or spill kits, assign responsibility for clean‑up, and train employees to report leaks promptly. Floor maintenance programs should address routine cleaning and prompt repairs to reduce slip hazards.

Employees should inspect ladders before use, choose the right ladder for the job, maintain three points of contact, avoid the top step, and set the ladder on stable surfaces. A monitorQA article summarizing OSHA ladder safety advises keeping ladders free of slippery material, using proper angles, securing near doors and extending ladders three feet above landing points.

Training should cover hazard identification, safe housekeeping, proper footwear, floor maintenance, ladder and stair safety, fall protection equipment, incident reporting and emergency response. WorkWise’s program includes modules on floors, walkways, stairways, ladders, dockboards, scaffolds, rope descent systems and fall protection.

WorkWise notes that its slips, trips and falls module aligns with OSHA’s Walking & Working Surfaces standard (29 CFR 1910, Subpart D). OSHA requires employers to provide training where employees are exposed to fall hazards. Completing the module helps demonstrate compliance but does not replace any site‑specific training mandated by regulatory agencies.

The injured person should get medical attention and report the incident to a supervisor. Employers should secure the area to prevent further injuries, document the incident, and investigate the cause. WorkWise’s program includes accident investigation forms to help identify root causes and implement corrective actions.