Slip and Fall Injuries at Work

Unfortunately, in most work environments, not much attention is paid to preventing slips and falls. For some employers slips and falls seem to be minor injuries in the workplace and tend to be “brushed off”. However, one slip or fall can cost an employer thousands of dollars.

A slip and fall in the workplace is defined as any sort of imbalance in a person’s stability that causes him or her to collide with the ground or other hard surface in any work environment. The work environments that report slips and falls most often are retailers, workplaces with a kitchen such as restaurants, vehicle tune-up and repair shops, medical facilities, factories, warehouses, construction sites, and sometimes offices.

Slips

Most slips occur in environments with wet or oily surfaces, dusty surfaces, or surfaces with a top layer of lose materials. Slips can result in some of the worst injuries such as: severe back injuries, paralysis of major parts of the body, bone fractures, concussions, and even comas.

Falls

Falls typically occur in locations of above-ground altitudes. Any place of work with ladders, scaffolds, cranes, or other elevated surfaces run the biggest risks for falls.

Common Factors of Slip/Fall Injuries:

There are several things that increase the likelihood of a slip and fall injury, including:

• Improper Footwear: Not wearing slip-resistance shoes or shoes with proper tread
• Lack of Risk Knowledge: Many employers do not give employees proper instruction on the risks of slips and falls and/or do not inform them of where the high-risk areas are.
• Work Environment: Any floor with lose materials on the surface or any environment that can cause loose footing or balance can be considered high-risk for slips and falls.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know has fallen or slipped while at work, contact the Madison personal injury lawyer of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. today at 800-242-2874.