Common Trip and Fall Hazards and How to Avoid Them

Trips are caused by an obstacle arresting the movement of your lower body while your upper body is still moving. Trips can result in injuries like sprains and strains, sometimes leading to legal claims that require a trip and fall lawyer. Here are some common trip and fall hazards and how to prevent them:

Common Trip and Fall Hazards

Uneven Surfaces and Obstacles

Changes in the walkway can interrupt your stride, disrupting your upper and lower body balance. Uneven surfaces or abrupt level transitions, like stairs or ramps, can cause you to trip. Unsecured and uneven floor mats, carpets, and rags are also potential hazards. Rumpled carpets can shift under your footing, causing you to trip and fall. Sudden gaps and irregularities on walkways, like potholes, missing tiles, floor finishes, or thresholds, may be hazards. 

Obstacles, like uncovered cords, cables, and hoses, may also be a tripping hazard, making you topple over. Open drawers and cabinet doors can also be obstructive, especially when encroaching on walkways.

Poor Lighting

Lack of adequate lighting in frequently traveled spaces may result in trips and falls. Poorly lit walkways make detecting abrupt changes in levels, such as steep ramps or steps, challenging. You may miss some steps when using staircases or steep steps. In the dark, it is usually more difficult to see obstacles, such as clutter or misplaced objects, that might be scattered across walkways. 

Obstructed Views

All walkways and circulation spaces must have a wide field of view, allowing you to detect obstacles easily. Obstructed views of a walking surface might hinder you from identifying trip hazards. Traveling through worksites where dust or smoke are commonly present can obstruct your view or hide obstacles. This results in workplace accidents and injuries, which lead to liability claims by the affected worker. A reliable trip and fall lawyer can help you get deserving compensation for your injuries.

Clutter

Clutter is an untidy heap or collection of items on the floor or along walkways. It may include heavy or sharp objects with potential trip and cut hazards. This type of neglect is common in workspaces like factories and processing plants. 

Ways to Prevent Trip and Fall Accidents

Most trip and fall accidents are preventable. Adhering to a safety plan and remaining aware of your surroundings often keeps you free from injury. Here are some preventive measures to reduce the risks associated with trips and falls:

Proper Housekeeping Practices

Appropriate housekeeping practices help prevent trip hazards and create a safer environment. Decluttering helps clear walkways and eliminate any trip hazards. Return objects or waste to designated locations to prevent it from piling up and becoming a hazard. 

Closing drawers, cabinets, and closets prevents them from being potential hazards. Keep circulation spaces free from any uncovered cords, cables, and hoses. Your legs might get tangled in such elements causing you to lose balance and trip. Evenly spread and properly tuck carpets, rags, and mats to prevent any irregularities on the floor’s surface.

Adequate Lighting

Provide adequate lighting in areas such as halls, ramps, steps, staircases, and exits. Be sure that streetlights offer enough light for outdoor pavements and walkways to reduce the risk of tripping. To avoid accidents, use a flashlight or your phone’s light to navigate areas with insufficient light.

Safety Plans and Protocols

Safety plans and protocols enhance trip and fall protection in high-risk work environments. Conduct frequent risk assessments, safety standard training, regular inspections, and equipment guidelines. Use visible signs to caution workers about potential hazards you cannot fix quickly. These hazards include unmarked steps, irregularities in the walking surface, speed bumps, and curb drops. Hazards are commonly painted yellow or yellow and black to indicate changes in the surface level. These measures can reduce the chances of trip and fall accidents in workplaces.

Interior and Exterior Modifications

Reorient the direction in which doors open so they open away from paths to prevent trip hazards. Opt for sliding doors instead of hinged doors where possible, as they take up less space when opened. Repair cracked, broken, or unlevel surfaces to prevent falls. Make sure construction professionals approve new floors for level surfaces and easy walking.

Contact a Reliable Trip and Fall Lawyer for Quality Services Today

Workplaces and public-use areas contain potential hazards and risks that result in trip and fall accidents. Some accidents may cause minor injuries like sprains, fractures, or cuts. Other accidents, including head, back, and neck injuries, are more severe. Any injury in the workplace, on public property, or within privately owned businesses may be eligible for compensation. Contact a reliable trip and fall lawyer to receive reliable legal services today.