For most of us, walking is a simple process of placing one foot in front of the other; we don’t give it a second thought. However, the number of workers’ compensation injuries resulting from slips, trips and falls might surprise you. Thirty-one percent of all workers’ compensation injuries reported by Kentucky School Boards Insurance Trust members during the 2009-10 policy year were the result of slips, trips and falls. Those losses accounted for 44 percent of the total cost incurred for that policy period.
Several factors contribute to slips, trips and falls:
• Shoes with slick soles provide insufficient traction, while platform shoes and high heels increase vulnerability to uneven surfaces.
• Loose or irregular surfaces, such as gravel, shifting floor tiles and uneven sidewalks can make it difficult to maintain footing.
• Obstructed aisles or walkways present tripping hazards or require frequent changes of direction, throwing people off balance.
• Liquids can make walking surfaces extremely slick. Similarly, school hallways are heavily waxed.
• Inattention and distraction interfere with awareness of all of these hazards and increase the risk of injury.
KSBIT recommends a few simple measures:
• Appropriate shoes
• “Wet floor” signs
• Approved climbing devices readily available
• Floor mats near entrances
For more safety and risk reduction information, contact one of KSBIT’s loss control specialists at 1-800-876-4552. z
— by Zilda Henson, claims analyst and Joe Isaacs, loss control specialist, KSBIT