trip and fall incident

What to Do After a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident

It's sad but true: Most people will suffer a slip, trip, and fall accident at some point in their lives. Sadder yet: The accident likely won't even be their fault. Because slip, trip, and falls can happen anywhere—and to anybody—it's important to know what steps to take following an accident.

This is especially true when your fall isn't your fault. By law, buildings, homes, parking lots, and walkways must be maintained to ensure they can be safely traveled—a responsibility known as premises liability.

Premises liability means that if you were seriously hurt after slipping, tripping, and falling on someone else's property because of the owner's negligence, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, time off work, and even pain and suffering.

Know What to Do After a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a slip, trip, and fall accident , it's important to remember that the steps you take immediately following the incident are crucial to building the best-possible legal case.

Here are five steps to take after a slip, trip, and fall accident:

5 Steps to Take After a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident

• Seek Medical Treatment. Your health—or the health of a loved one—should be your number-one priority following a slip, trip, and fall accident. If you've been hurt, it's important to see a doctor so that your injuries can be properly documented. Those medical records will be important pieces of evidence should you decide to seek compensation for your injuries.
• Report the Accident. No matter where the slip, trip, and fall accident happens—in a store, on a sidewalk, or at a friend's house—make sure you report it to a manager, owner or landlord. Remember to get the details of the incident in writing—ask the manager, owner or landlord to make a written report, and request a copy before you leave.
• Document Everything. It's important to collect the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses for all potential witnesses. Their statements could help prove your claim if you decide to pursue a legal claim. Also, remember to take pictures of the EXACT location where you fell and make sure to photograph any stairs, icy patches, or other conditions that contributed to your accident. Jot down what you were doing right before the accident, the way you fell, and any other details, including the exact time and date. Also: Place the shoes and clothing you were wearing during the accident in a safe storage place. They may be relevant pieces of evidence later.
• Decline to Give Statements. Remain calm and limit your communication with the property owner or manager. Do not post any details related to your accident on social media. Decline to give a statement to an insurance company until you've spoken to an attorney. Do not place blame—and don't take any.
• Call an Attorney. When considering legal action, the best person on your side is an experienced attorney. Since many slip, trip, and fall cases are complex and difficult to prove, you are best served by the resources of a successful law firm. We have the experience, knowledge, and track record of success to recover the money you deserve.

Hurt in a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident? Get the Money You Deserve

Many accident victims are unsure whether they need an attorney to handle their case. Here are three ways our experienced slip, trip, and fall attorneys can help you:

• We'll handle the confusing paperwork. Slip, trip, and fall cases are confusing and complex. Our experienced legal team will take care of all the details so you can focus on getting better.
• We’ll worry about the deadlines. People hurt in slip, trip, and fall accidents have only a limited time to file legal claims.
• We'll treat you like a person, not a case number — and keep you posted about your case in language you can understand.

Don't get stuck paying medical bills from an accident caused by somebody else. With Edgar Snyder & Associates, you'll get experienced, successful legal professionals who have the resources to win your case. Your team will be with you from start to finish.

We're available 24/7. Call us today for a free case review. And remember, at Edgar Snyder & Associates, there's never an obligation to use our services, and there's never a fee unless we get money for you!

Related Case Types

Related resources.

Review my case for free.

An attorney will review your case within 24 hours, and we will reach out with next steps.

Slip and Fall vs. Trip and Fall – Know the Difference

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

Understanding the differences between slip and fall vs. trip and fall accidents is crucial for your personal injury case if you were hurt in a fall on someone else’s property. Slips and falls often result from slick or wet surfaces, while trips and falls usually occur due to obstacles or uneven flooring. The evidence and legal strategy needed to prove your claim can vary based on whether you were injured in a trip and fall or slip and fall.

At Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., our slip and fall attorneys understand the subtle differences between slip and fall vs. trip and fall cases. We will use our expertise in Michigan premises liability law to gather evidence and submit your claim to help you receive the compensation you deserve.

What is a Slip and Fall Accident?

A slip and fall accident is a type of personal injury that occurs when an individual falls due to losing their footing on a slippery walking surface. These accidents can happen in various settings, from private residences to public places, and are typically characterized by the sudden and unexpected nature of the fall.

Slip and fall accidents can result in a wide range of injuries and are responsible for over one million ER visits annually and 12% of total falls. Some common injuries associated with slip and fall accidents include:

• Fractures and broken bones. One of the most frequent injuries, especially among older individuals, is fractures or broken bones. These can occur in the wrist, hip, arm, or leg. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, with 300,000 people over 65 hospitalized annually for the injury.
• Head injuries. Slip and fall accidents often lead to head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which can have long-lasting consequences.
• Soft tissue injuries. Sprains, strains, and contusions of muscles, ligaments, and tendons can occur, leading to pain and limited mobility.
• Back and spinal cord injuries. Falls can result in serious back injuries or damage to the spinal cord, potentially causing paralysis or chronic pain.
• Cuts and abrasions. Minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, and bruises are common in slip and fall incidents but can still require medical attention.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents often occur due to the negligence of property owners who fail to maintain safe premises. The following are common causes of slip and fall accidents, including hazardous conditions and lack of warning from property owners or managers:

• Wet or slippery floors. When a floor is wet or slippery, it becomes a hazard for anyone walking over it. Property owners have a duty to ensure that floors are dry, clean, and safe to walk on. Negligence occurs when they fail to address spills or wet floors or remove hazards like snow, ice, or puddles, leading to slip and fall accidents.
• Poor lighting. Proper lighting is crucial for visibility, especially in areas where the floor may have liquid spills or other potential hazards. When property owners neglect to provide adequate lighting, it’s easy for individuals to slip on unseen hazards.
• Lack of warning signs. Whenever there’s a potential hazard, like a wet or recently waxed floor, warning signs should be prominently displayed. The absence of warning signs can increase the likelihood of slip and fall accidents because victims are unaware of the danger.
• Improperly maintained flooring. Worn, broken, or poorly maintained flooring can easily become slippery, especially during wet conditions. Property owners who neglect to maintain or replace flooring materials put visitors at risk of a serious slip and fall incident.
• Lack of handrails. Handrails provide stability and support, especially in stairwells or on ramps. When property owners do not provide or maintain handrails where necessary, it can lead to slip and fall accidents because victims cannot grab on for support.
• Cleaning products. The misuse or overuse of cleaning products can leave floors excessively slippery. When cleaning is not performed correctly, or residual cleaning product is left behind, it could create a slipping hazard for visitors.

What is a Trip and Fall Accident?

Trip and fall accidents occur when an individual stumbles or loses their balance and falls due to an obstacle or obstruction in their path. Trip and fall accidents happen when a person’s foot strikes an object or uneven surface, leading to a loss of balance and a fall.

The injuries resulting from trip and fall accidents can vary in severity depending on the circumstances and the individual’s physical condition. Some common injuries associated with trip and fall accidents include:

• Sprains and strains. Trip and fall accidents can result in sprains and strains affecting muscles, ligaments, and tendons, necessitating rest and rehabilitation.
• Fractures and broken bones. Falls can lead to wrist, arm, hip, or ankle fractures, highlighting the impact of unexpected trips.
• Contusions and bruises. Minor injuries such as bruises, scrapes, and cuts are common in trip and fall incidents but can still cause pain and discomfort.
• Head and face injuries. Tripping can lead to head injuries, including facial lacerations and dental damage, resulting in high medical bills and reconstructive procedures.
• Back and spinal injuries. The sudden and jarring motion of tripping can result in back pain or spinal injuries, which can be chronic and debilitating for victims.
• Concussions and TBIs. Head trauma from a trip and fall accident can cause concussions, which may have short-term or long-lasting effects such as cognitive changes and a loss of enjoyment of life.

Common Causes of Trip and Fall Accidents

Trip and fall accidents commonly occur due to hazards resulting from property owner negligence. The following common causes of trip and fall accidents include uneven flooring and obstacles in the walkway:

• Uneven sidewalks or pavements. Uneven surfaces can cause an individual to trip and possibly sustain injuries. When a property owner neglects to address issues like cracked or uneven sidewalks, they increase the risk to visitors or residents.
• Obstacles on walkways. Objects like misplaced furniture, loose cords, or clutter on walkways can create tripping hazards. Failing to keep walkways clear of these obstacles puts visitors at risk and can indicate property owner negligence.
• Uneven flooring transitions. A sudden change in floor height can cause a trip and fall. When a property owner builds or maintains a property with poor flooring transitions or fails to warn about them, visitors may be likelier to fall due to the hazard.
• Torn or frayed carpeting. Loose or damaged carpeting can snag a person’s foot, leading to a trip. The property owner’s failure to repair or replace worn carpeting heightens this risk and can show negligence.
• Inadequate lighting. Poor lighting can obscure vision, making it difficult to see obstacles or uneven flooring, which can cause tripping. This can be due to a property owner failing to ensure adequate lighting to prevent accidents.
• Protruding tree roots. Tree roots that protrude above the ground can be tripping hazards. A property owner’s failure to address these hazards on sidewalks or pathways may result in trip and fall accidents due to this negligence.

Legal Liability of a Slip and Fall vs. Trip and Fall

The legal liability in slip and fall vs. trip and fall cases is based on premises liability. This legal concept holds property owners or occupiers responsible for maintaining safe premises for visitors. While both types of accidents fall under this legal framework, there are differences in how liability is determined in slip and fall vs. trip and fall cases:

• Cause of the hazard. To determine liability, your attorney will look at the cause of the hazard. For a slip and fall, this might mean investigating the origin of the hazardous condition and whether the property owner was aware or should have been aware of it. Liability for a trip and fall might depend on whether the tripping hazard was known or should have been known by the property owner and whether they posted adequate warnings or took corrective measures.
• Duration of the hazard. How long hazardous conditions existed in slip and falls is a liability factor. For example, the property owner might be liable if a spill is left unattended in a busy grocery store for several hours. While the same concept applies to trip hazards, slip and fall conditions are usually temporary and easier to address. For instance, fixing uneven flooring may take longer to repair than cleaning a spill. Your attorney can examine this issue and help determine how the duration of the hazard affects your compensation claim.
• Preventative measures. Attorneys may assess preventative measures taken by the property owner for both slip and fall vs. trip and fall cases. For a slip and fall, they may look at whether property owners took reasonable steps to prevent slipping hazards, such as putting down mats, posting warning signs, or promptly cleaning spills. For trips and falls, they may consider whether the property owner made reasonable efforts to prevent tripping hazards, such as repairing uneven flooring, removing obstacles, or providing adequate lighting.
• Modified comparative negligence. Michigan uses modified comparative negligence for all personal injury claims. This means that both parties can be partially responsible for the accident. The percentage of fault you are assigned can lower your award under this doctrine. Also, you will not receive a damage award if you are more than 50% at fault. Your attorney can help you navigate your claim if you have partial fault. For instance, you were injured at work but failed to wear required non-slip footwear or were intoxicated when you tripped over a cord. Your attorney can investigate where the property owner may still bear responsibility, lowering your percentage of fault to help you get a fair settlement.

What to Do if You Experience a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall

Experiencing a slip and fall or trip and fall accident can be physically and emotionally distressing. Taking the right steps to ensure your well-being and protect your legal rights is essential. If you are in a slip and fall or trip and fall, take the following actions:

• Seek medical attention. Prioritize your health following a slip or trip incident. Always consult with a medical professional immediately, no matter how minor your injuries seem. Some fall-related injuries, like concussions or internal damage, might not show symptoms immediately. Early medical attention helps in faster recovery and establishes a documented history of your injuries, which can be beneficial should you pursue legal action.
• Report the incident. Inform the property owner, manager, or relevant authority about the incident promptly. Ensure an accident report is filed and secure a copy for yourself. This document can act as a crucial piece of evidence, especially in determining the timing and place of the accident in case of a slip or trip and fall claim.
• Document the scene. Visual evidence is critical to establishing the hazardous condition that led to your accident. If circumstances permit, capture photos or videos of the location where you fell. For slip and fall situations, take pictures of the slippery surface, ice, or other dangers present. In the case of trip and fall incidents, record the impediment or irregular terrain that resulted in your fall.
• Collect witness contact information. If anyone witnessed your accident, collect their names and ways to contact them. Testimonies from these witnesses can support your version of events and shed further light on the unsafe circumstances that resulted in your slip or trip and fall episode.
• Consult an attorney. Speak with a personal injury attorney with expertise in slip and fall or trip and fall cases. Our slip and fall attorneys at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. can help you understand your legal rights and pursue compensation for your injuries.

What Four Elements You Must Prove in a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall Case

In slip and fall or trip and fall cases, establishing liability and seeking compensation typically require proving four key elements. These elements are essential to demonstrate that the property owner or occupier was negligent and should be held responsible for your injuries and losses:

• Duty of Care. It’s vital to determine that the property owner is responsible for keeping the premises safe for you. How you were on the property—be it as a business visitor, a casual guest, or an uninvited individual —determines the level of this responsibility. Your lawyer can help define your legal standing on the property by reviewing invitations, contracts, tickets, or purchase records indicating your reason for being there. We may also use witness accounts to verify your presence and determine the care duty you were entitled to under the premises liability law.
• Breach of Duty. You must demonstrate that the property owner failed in their duty, such as neglecting a spill or not repairing a damaged walkway. Your lawyer will collect and showcase evidence highlighting the owner’s disregard for maintaining safety. This evidence can encompass maintenance logs, security camera recordings, or testimonies from witnesses. This proof can indicate a recurrent oversight or a one-time act of negligence, like overlooking a recognized danger. For example, time markers on security footage might illustrate that a spill was left unaddressed for an unreasonable duration, leading to a dangerous situation that resulted in your fall.
• Causation. It’s essential to link the property owner’s negligence to your mishap and injuries. To establish this causation, your attorney might collect medical documents and incident reports and seek specialist opinions to draw a clear connection between the unsafe environment and your harm. In collaboration with your legal team, including partner attorney and registered nurse Eileen Kroll , they will consult medical professionals to explain how the premises’ conditions were behind the accident and your injuries. Eileen can use her background in the medical field to bolster this connection and accurately assess your current and future damages.
• Damages. It’s crucial to illustrate the setbacks you’ve encountered due to the accident, including medical expenses and missed earnings. Your lawyer will gather all health records and other proof to highlight your losses and assist in securing maximum compensation. This may encompass economic damages, representing the quantifiable expenses you’ve experienced, derived from medical invoices, W2 forms, and other related bills. Your compensation might also account for non-economic damages like pain, anguish, and emotional turmoil. We’ll use medical reviews, psychological appraisals, and personal accounts to depict your suffering and substantiate the compensation claim.

Seek a Fair Settlement With Help From Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C.

Whether you were hurt in a trip and fall or slip and fall accident, you deserve financial compensation for your injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. Our experienced attorneys at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. have the legal skill and knowledge to aggressively represent your interests in a slip and fall claim.

We can help you receive a settlement that covers the full extent of your injuries. Contact Cochran, Kroll & Associates for a free consultation for your slip and fall vs. trip and fall claim.

Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.

READY TO GET STARTED?

Get a free case evaluation.

• First Name *
• Last Name *
• CASE CONCERNING: * Select Case Concerning VEHICLE ACCIDENTS MEDICAL MALPRACTICE PRODUCT LIABILITY WORKER’S COMP PERSONAL INJURY OTHER
• TELL US ABOUT YOUR CASE:* *

Your privacy is important to us. Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. does not share, sell, rent, or trade personally identifiable or confidential information with third parties for any purpose.

• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

CALL TOLL-FREE | 24 HOURS

Results-driven track record.

Medical Malpractice / Birth Injury

Monroe, Michigan

WHAT HAPPENED:

A young couple from Monroe, Michigan, was awarded a $15.8 million verdict as the result of their baby son, Jason, being inflicted with Cerebral Palsy as the result of an error during the final stages of a labor.

Result: $15.8 Million

Medical malpractice/wrongful death.

Oakland County, Michigan

What Happened:

While in the hospital a mother of three was not properly treated for a closed-head injury causing her untimely death.

Result: $1 Million

Accidents & injuries/brain injury.

Livonia, Michigan

A Livonia pedestrian recovered $1.4 million when he was struck by a commercial van resulting in a traumatic brain injury in Redford, Michigan.

Result: $1.4 Million

Medical malpractice / misdiagnosis.

Wayne County, Michigan

Patient suffered cardiac arrest and brain damage when a hospital failed to recognize internal bleeding and treatment was delayed for more than 14 hours.

Result: $9 Million

Accidents & injuries/auto accident.

Tuscola County, Michigan

A Tuscola County jury awarded $3.3 million to a severely brain injured motorist as the result of a defective Michigan highway.

Result: $3.3 Million

Accidents & injuries/construction site injury.

Flint, Michigan

A seventeen-year-old construction worker suffered a traumatic brain injury resulting from a fall in Flint, Michigan, and was awarded $1.25 million.

Result: $1.25 Million

Medical malpractice.

Middle-aged woman suffered severe disfiguring facial burns from a simple surgical procedure.

Result: $1.9 Million

Medical malpractice / birth trauma.

Southern Michigan

Child developed cerebral palsy with developmental delays due to lack of oxygen and brain injury during labor and delivery.

Result: $3.8 Million

Accidents & injuries/construction site/workplace injury.

Westland, Michigan

A Westland construction worker recovered $1.5 million after sustaining a traumatic brain injury while on a construction site in Detroit, Michigan.

Result: $1.5 Million

Accidents & injuries/truck accident.

Marlette, Michigan

A Marlette, Michigan, family reached a $1.3 million settlement in the traffic death of their 5-year-old son when they were struck by a semi truck.

Result: $1.3 Million

Medical malpractice/cancer misdiagnosis.

Redford, Michigan

The misdiagnosis of breast cancer resulted in a Redford, Michigan, woman recovering $225,000.

Result: $225,000

Workers compensation.

Detroit, Michigan

A construction worker redeemed his worker’s compensation case for $125,000 in Detroit, Michigan.

Result: $125,000

A paraplegic woman from Monroe, Michigan, recovered Michigan no-fault benefits including the purchase of a new home and attendant care in excess of $400,000.

Medical Malpractice/Birth Injury

Brighton, Michigan; Detroit, Michigan

A Brighton family recovered $1.3 million and a Detroit family recovered $900,000 as the result of birth injuries and medical malpractice to their children.

Result: $2.2

Bay City, Michigan

A Bay City grandmother was awarded $80,000 following an auto accident resulting in a broken leg.

Result: $80,000

Free consultation no fees until we win.

• Name * First Last
• CASE CONCERNING: * Select Case Concerning Vehicle Accidents Medical Malpractice Product Liability Worker’s Comp Personal Injury Other
• TELL US ABOUT YOUR CASE: *
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

• Search search
• Slips Trips and Falls
• Preventing Slips Trips and Falls

Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

Learn what you can do to prevent and control slip, trip and fall hazards in the workplace.

Page Content

Slip, trip and fall hazards, for more information.

Slips, trips and falls can happen in any workplace, and should not be overlooked. They can cause:

• Minor injuries such as sprains and strains.
• Broken bones due to the impact when trying to break the fall.
• Back injuries due to the impact from the fall.
• Cuts if the incident occurs near sharp objects.
• Head injuries if the person hits the head upon impact.
• Burns if the incident occurs near hot surfaces, or if the person is handling hot fluids.
• Death in more serious cases. For example, a person may slip and fall off an open side of a building if it is not barricaded.

The table below lists:

• Hazards associated with slips, trips and falls.
• Examples of risk control measures that your risk assessment team can take to minimise or eliminate the risks associated with these hazards.

Employer's Role

• Conduct Risk Assessments (RA) to eliminate or minimise slip, trip and fall risks.
• Maintain a safe work environment (e.g. by selecting the right type of non-slip flooring and providing sufficient illumination at the workplace).
• Provide employees with personal protective equipment (e.g. non-slip work shoes), training, instruction and supervision for relevant work activities.

To improve workplace practices, you should also:

• Establish clear standards for workplace housekeeping and set an expectation for employees to maintain them. Refer to the WSH Guidelines on Workplace Housekeeping for more information.
• Conduct routine workplace inspections to confirm that all hazards have been addressed, and to ensure that your risk control measures have been effectively implemented.
• Encourage employees to report near-miss incidents so that you can prevent future accidents.
• Encourage employees to submit ideas on slip, trip and fall prevention through a WSH staff suggestion scheme.

Employee's Role

• Adhere to safe work procedures and instructions.
• Not endanger yourself or others with unsafe behaviour (e.g. running across a wet floor or using a handphone while walking down the stairs).
• Use personal protective equipment (e.g. non-slip work shoes) provided by your company.
• Clean up all spills promptly.
• Keep walkways and staircases free of obstacles.
• Keep the floor in the work area dry, clean and free from clutter.
• Tape down power cords or cables to prevent tripping.
• Report any hazards you spot (e.g. damaged floor tiles, curled mats), and place a warning sign to alert others before the hazard is removed.
• Report all near misses and accidents promptly to your employer.
• Submit suggestions on slip, trip and fall prevention.
• ABC Checklist – Slips, Trips and Falls

05 Jun 2024 Collaterals Posters

04 Jun 2024 Newsletters WSH Bulletins

31 May 2024 Collaterals Posters

19 Apr 2024 Training Materials Resources for Training Providers

04 Oct 2023 Collaterals Posters

Advisory – Beware of scams and phishing emails

Send us feedback if you receive any suspicious or inappropriate emails asking for your personal information. The email may not have been sent by Workplace Safety and Health Council. Do not click on any link or open any attachments. Your feedback can help us fight against scammers – contact us immediately. We use cookies on wshc.sg to provide a better user experience that's more tailored to you. If you continue, you are giving us your consent to receive cookies only on this site. To decline cookies at any time, simply adjust your browser settings. Read our Privacy Statement.

FREE CONSULTATION • CALL NOW

• 5 Immediate Steps to Take After a Slip (or Trip) and Fall

• Premises Liability

Seek immediate medical attention

Complete an incident report, collect the contact information for the store owner, on-site manager and witnesses, take photos and notes of the area, talk to an experienced slip and fall attorney, were you injured lawyers are standing by to speak with you.

Strolling through the grocery store aisle she walked so many times before, she didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Suddenly, her feet began to lose their traction and she could feel herself losing her balance. With both hands clenched tightly around the cart handle, her eyes widened as panic washed over her. The shrill sound of her scream permeated the air as she lost her balance. Only seconds later she found herself on the floor of the aisle, her knees bent and her arm wedged underneath her side. Beside her lay her cart, overturned.

A slip and fall accident , otherwise known as a trip and fall incident, is one of the most common Florida premises liability claims.

A premises liability claim can be made under the following circumstances:

• The dangerous condition existed for such a length of time that, in the exercise of ordinary care, the business establishment should have known of the hazard
• The unsafe or dangerous condition is a recurrent hazard and could have been prevented
• The person responsible for maintaining the premises had enough time to repair the hazard and/or warn others about it
• The dangerous condition went knowingly unrepaired and the injured was uninformed or warned
• The dangerous condition caused the injury to occur

Commercial property owners have the responsibility to keep their guests safe. That responsibility extends to managers, associates and other employees.

If you find yourself hurt on another’s property following a slip (or trip) and fall …

If you’re able to get to an urgent care center or hospital on your own, do so. If not, call 911 to have EMT transport you to the nearest hospital. Even if you don’t feel much pain, it’s a good idea to seek medical attention immediately after the accident.

Documentation from a medical professional is an essential asset towards proving premises liability and negligence. Retain any post-care instructions and prescription receipts.

Without a completed incident report, a property owner or manager can potentially deny any incident occurred, especially one that resulted in injury. If you’re not given an option to complete an incident report at the time of the incident, request one be given to you.

You will need to be very descriptive. Note the time that the event occurred, the condition of the floor and whether anyone else was present. Details you may not think are relevant at the time could become instrumental later.

Get a copy of your completed incident report. Keep this for your records to show that the property had notice of the incident.

Unless the property’s day-to-day operations are managed on-site by the property owner, get the contact information for the on-duty manager, store associate witnesses and other customers witness to the slip (or trip) and fall, as well as the property owner/landlord.

Responsibility for maintaining safe property conditions rests on many people.

Photographic evidence complements the written incident report. The store may have their manager or another associate take photos of the scene for their records, but be sure to take photos as well. Get all angles of the area that caused you injury. Note anything that may not show up well in the photo and provide any clarifying remarks that will help give context to the scene. The more evidence you bring against the property, the better your chances are to resolve a slip and fall case in your favor.

You need an experienced attorney when taking legal action after a slip and fall. Managers and property owners will often use tactics to avoid accountability for negligence and unsafe conditions. A skilled premises liability attorney will talk to the insurance company to get the best settlement for you.

The Florida personal injuries attorneys at SKG are only a phone call away. If you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property, reach out to us anytime so we can help you get back on your feet.

Call or text 800-350-3476 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

Slip and Trip and Fall Cases: What You Need to Know

04 Nov Slip and Trip and Fall Cases: What You Need to Know

Tripping and slipping accidents occur regularly and are sometimes inevitable. If you are injured after a fall outside your home on another’s property, you may be entitled to compensation. It is important to know the details of the incident to understand who may be at fault and whether you may expect to be compensated.

This article will explain in brief the different types of fall cases, the circumstances giving rise to a lawsuit for your injuries, and how a personal injury attorney can assist with your case.

What is a Slip and Fall Case?

A slip and fall accident may occur when a person comes in contact with a slippery or wet surface that causes them to lose their balance and fall. Some of the most common slip and fall cases occur on wet or freshly waxed floors or a surface with excess condensation. Most public places will display signs warning patrons if a floor is wet or slippery. However, if the establishment fails to do so and an individual falls and is injured on the premises, the property owner may be liable.

Slip and fall injuries can be minor or severe, ranging from strains, sprains, and bruises to permanent injury involving broken bones, etc.. If you are injured in a slip and fall accident, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.  You should also immediately photograph the area of the fall to include the substance that you believe caused the fall,

What is a Trip and Fall Case?

A trip and fall incident is different from a slip and fall because it occurs when someone trips over a physical object, causing them to fall. Common causes (not all) of trip and fall cases are uneven sidewalks, walkways, or objects obstructing the walking path. One of the most frequently occurring trip and fall incidents is when an individual trip over a step is not properly constructed or in disrepair that is not marked properly by the establishment.

Trip and fall accidents may cause different types of injuries compared to slip and fall cases. The victim may fall forward during a trip and fall incident, breaking bones, sustaining cuts, or abrasions of the skin.  These are common injuries but certainly not all-inclusive.

What Proof is Necessary in a Slip or Trip and Fall Case? Accidents happen every day, but what differentiates an ordinary mishap is negligence. Negligence is the failure on the part of the property owner to properly take care of his/her property which ultimately causes injury or damage.

The injured party must prove that their injury or damage occurred due to the negligence of the property owner.  Also, the injured party is not responsible for their injury. This can make slip and fall and trip and fall cases difficult: one must prove that their injury was caused by someone else’s negligence and prove that they did not act in a way that makes them responsible for their bodily injuries.

Should I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit for a Slip or Trip and Fall Injury?

If you want to take your slip and fall or trip and fall case to court, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the incident must have occurred on someone else’s property or business. Being injured on another person’s property opens the door to file a premises liability lawsuit, to establish that the property owner did not safely maintain the building or grounds.

The best way to determine whether it is feasible to file a personal injury lawsuit is to meet with an attorney. Experienced personal injury lawyers deal with issues of negligence and liability. They can help determine the best way to move forward after a slip and fall or trip and fall injury.  They also know the defenses available to the property owner in defense of your claim.

Can I Receive a Settlement in a Slip or Trip and Fall Case?

If the property owner or insurance carrier assumes responsibility for your fall, you may receive a settlement after a slip and fall or trip and fall incident. You may settle before the case goes to court and often involves a payment by the responsible party or their insurance carrier. Payment may include but not be limited to, physical and emotional damages as well as medical bills/expenses associated with your injury.  Accepting a settlement avoids a long court case that can take months or even years to resolve.

However, accepting the first offer made by the liable party may not be in your best interest either. A personal injury attorney can help you weigh your options and help you determine the best way to handle your unique case.

Final Thoughts

Slip and fall and trip and fall cases are complex and require the assistance of a legal professional.  If you have been injured hiring a personal injury attorney with years of experience may help you achieve your desired outcome. The law offices of Carl P. Kasunic can assist you with your legal matters. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

• Safety Management
• Leadership Development

Worksite Safety

• Frontline Fundamentals
• Train the Trainer 101
• Tailgate Topics
• Voice of Experience
• Equipment Operations
• OSHA Articles
• Industry Events
• Volume 20 - IP 2023
• Volume 19 - IP 2022
• Volume 18 - IP 2021
• Volume 17 – IP 2020
• Utility Safety in Depth
• Utility Safety Solutions
• Register for Conference
• Submit a Product Release
• Vendor Video Library
• Submit Ad Materials
• View Media Kit
• Download iP Digital App
• Tailgate Topics E-Newsletter
• Utility Products E-Newsletter
• Contribute to Promote Safety
• CUSP Certification
• Subscribe Now!

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Investigating and Documenting Slips, Trips and Falls

Written by Chip Darius, CUSP, OHST, CET, CSHO on August 19, 2019 . Posted in Worksite Safety .

People are affected by gravity at every moment of their existence. There is an ongoing struggle between this planet, which never stops trying to pull things to its center, and humans who are trying not to be overcome by the pull. In the battle against gravity, humans rely on balance, coordination, traction and decision-making. In work environments, employers are responsible for managing hazards; reducing or eliminating hazards that could cause slips, trips and falls; training employees; and investigating incidents to prevent recurrence. The remainder of this article will focus on the investigation and documentation of slips, trips and falls in the utility work environment.

Terminology and Goal Clear definitions help guide us to clear outcomes, improved safety and reduced risk. People may refer to “slipstripsandfalls” as a single thing, but they are each distinctly different. Slips, trips and falls can occur alone or in combination.

The employer’s goal is to reduce risk of injuries and incidents by maintaining clean, dry, well-lit workplace walking surfaces with appropriate traction that matches the user’s expectations; managing footwear; eliminating trip hazards; avoiding slippery contamination; and training workers.  

Traction refers to the friction between a surface and a person’s foot or footwear. It is scientifically described as either a static or dynamic coefficient of friction. Where there is a high-traction surface and high-traction footwear – such as a brushed-finish cement sidewalk and aggressive-tread work boots – it is less likely that a slip will occur. Contamination can change the available traction, such as when there is moisture, oil or ice between footwear and a surface.

A slip occurs when traction is not maintained and there is a loss of control over body position. On a dance floor or the surface of an ice hockey rink, lower traction is desirable. On a basketball court or workplace walking surface, greater traction is desirable. A slip may or may not involve a fall to the surface. If a person has an accurate expectation that a surface has low traction, and the person has good balance and coordination, the person often can compensate by slowing down and taking smaller, closer steps to avoid a slip. When the person is surprised because the actual traction is less than their expectation, a slip often results.

A trip occurs when a person is in motion and the foot or lower leg strikes against something. Body momentum leads to a loss of balance, which may or may not involve a fall to the surface. A stumble may occur as the person alters their gait and attempts to regain their balance. Humans do not normally high-step march but instead swing a leg forward with minimal clearance from the walking surface, so any vertical projection of a quarter-inch or more is considered a trip hazard. People can still trip even if a hazard is in view and well-marked.

There are two types of falls : a fall to the same level and a fall to a lower level. A fall to the same level occurs when a person’s center of gravity moves beyond the point of balance recovery and gravity pulls the body to impact the same surface the person is on. A fall to a lower level involves a fall from the surface the person was on and body impact to a different surface below.

Investigation Follow a standardized, recognized method to investigate slips, trips and falls. Incident investigation training is available from the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers, National Safety Council, American Society of Safety Professionals and other sources. OSHA has published “Incident [Accident] Investigations: A Guide for Employers,” which is available for free download at www.osha.gov/dte/IncInvGuide4Empl_Dec2015.pdf. The agency strongly encourages employers to investigate all workplace incidents, both those that cause harm and the close calls that could have caused harm under slightly different circumstances. OSHA recommends the following four-step investigation process, using a systems approach to identify underlying root causes:

• Preserve and document the scene.
• Collect information.
• Determine root causes.
• Implement corrective actions.

Documentation Most companies have a standard incident report for employees or visitors, and a standard first report of injury for employees. Neither form typically captures all the information needed in a slip, trip or same-level-fall investigation. In utility work, the incident may involve a worker, contractor, visitor to utility facilities or pedestrian trying to navigate a work zone.

The initial investigation tends to focus on the “big three”: the walking surface, the footwear and the contaminant. Was the surface clean, dry and clear with adequate traction? Was the footwear sole appropriate for the surface? Was there water, oil, ice, sand, food or dust present? Was the contaminant on the surface or on the footwear? A strong investigation looks well past the big three, especially if a lawsuit is possible.  

Structural Issues Consider structural issues: consult building codes, fire codes, the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and OSHA standards to determine if the walking surface complied with applicable standards. Refer to ANSI A1264.1-2017, “Safety Requirements for Workplace Walking/Working Surfaces and Their Access; Workplace, Floor, Wall and Roof Openings; Stairs and Guardrail/Handrail Systems.” Consult ASTM F1637-19, “Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces,” a consensus standard that applies to both new and existing walkways, sidewalks, stairs and other walking surfaces for pedestrians wearing ordinary footwear. For slips, the National Floor Safety Institute’s B101 series of standards addresses coefficients of friction and preparation of traction audit reports.  

Environment Consider the environment where the incident occurred and take photos and/or videos. Did it happen indoors or outdoors? Did weather or precipitation play a role? Were temporary mats deployed and changed properly? Were there loose mats or rugs? What was the lighting like? What was the surface made of, when was it installed and was it consistently the same material throughout? How should the surface have been maintained according to the manufacturer, and how was it maintained? Was there any visible defect, damage or contaminant? Was there wear or deterioration? Was the surface sloped? Were there holes or gaps in the surface or changes in level? Were there any warning signs or indicators of the hazard?  

Personal Statements and Footwear Take the written statement of the person who slipped, tripped or fell, along with the statements of any witnesses. Capture details about what happened before, at the time of and following the incident. How was the person moving? Were they standing, shuffling, walking, striding or running (straight or turning), upslope or downslope? Were they talking, texting, carrying anything, or physically or mentally distracted? Using a cane or other device? Impaired by fatigue, medication or substances? Wearing glasses or contact lenses? Did they see the hazard and try to avoid it? How far did they fall, how did they land and what body parts were injured? Who provided first aid or medical care? Photograph their footwear, including the brand and model, and the condition of the soles.  

Organizational Records Examine organizational records. Have there been previous incidents or complaints related to walking surfaces in that area? What janitorial services affect the surface? When were they last provided? What products were used, and were application instructions followed? Has the surface previously been assessed for a static coefficient of friction and/or a dynamic coefficient of friction using an approved tribometer and measurement process?  

Report of Findings Prepare a report of findings. The corporate safety department and/or corporate attorney should help with preparing the report. For guidance, there are excellent resources in ASTM F1694-14, “Standard Guide for Composing Walkway Surface Investigation, Evaluation and Incident Report Forms for Slips, Stumbles, Trips, and Falls.” Keep all notes, photos, sketches, statements and so forth according to your agency’s records retention policies. Consult legal counsel before altering or discarding any information if a lawsuit is possible.  

Updated OSHA Standards OSHA standards establish minimum legal standards for workplace safety programs. In 2017, OSHA updated general industry walking and working surface standards, and employers now have specific duties and responsibilities. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22 requires employers to keep walking surfaces clean, orderly, sanitary, dry to the extent feasible and free of hazards. The employer also must inspect, maintain and repair the surfaces.

OSHA 1910.22(d) requires the employer to ensure walking-working surfaces are inspected on two different schedules: regularly and as necessary. Paragraph 1910.22(d) also requires that hazardous conditions on walking-working surfaces be corrected immediately or be guarded to prevent employees from using the surface again until the hazard is corrected or repaired. Once-a-shift inspection at building entranceways may not be enough in a rain or snow event. Ongoing inspection may be required in a cafeteria food line where dropped food items can create slip hazards. Utility truck walking and stepping surfaces should be inspected each shift.

OSHA construction standards 29 CFR 1926.25, 1926.34 and 1926.250 require exit routes, aisles and passageways to be kept clear and in good repair for free and safe movement of employees and equipment.

Suitable resources must be available to guard a hazard, such as warning signs or barriers that effectively direct people safely around the hazard. Consider visually impaired employees who may not be able to see protective devices and available lighting in the area. Also consider distracted walkers who may be focused on their mobile devices rather than their environment.  

Compromised Hazard Controls Routinely inspect for hazard controls that have become less effective over time. Traction tape can wear through, stair tread covers can become loose, brightly colored warning paint can fade, and warning signs can be damaged or disappear. Hazard controls show that the organization was aware of the hazard, and failure to maintain warnings will not be well-received by OSHA or a jury.  

Summary A strong investigation identifies hazards and system weaknesses so that the employer can improve controls and reduce risk. Getting to the root cause or causes helps to prevent similar incidents from occurring. For a safer tomorrow, strengthen your investigation of slips, trips and falls today.

About the Author: Chip Darius, CUSP, OHST, CET, CSHO, is founder and president of Safety Priority Consultants LLC ( www.safetypriority.com ). He has provided safety consulting and training services to construction, utility and general industry clients since 1991. Darius serves on the AGC of America Health & Safety Committee and is frequently called upon as an expert witness in safety-related legal matters.

Slip-And-Fall-Type Accidents, Explained

Breaking down a slip and fall accident, common causes of slip and fall accidents.

• Debris on floors
• Exposed electrical wiring
• Uneven stairs
• Inadequate lighting
• Cracked pavement
• Uneven flooring
• Wet flooring
• Lack of handrails
• Holes in flooring
• Poorly placed fixtures
• Inadequate warning signage
• Worn carpet
• Spilled food or drink
• Broken floor tiles

Common Injuries Caused by a Slip and Fall Accident

According to the National Safety Council , accidents in which a person either slips or trips while walking result in almost 9 million hospital emergency room visits per year. Most people would assume that these accidents only result in minor injuries like a little bruising or scraping. However, serious injuries can occur due to the way the human body falls and the unexpected and surprising nature of the accident. Often, it is the suddenness of the incident that allows so much room for injury, since the body has little time to prepare itself.

Common injuries from slip- or trip-and-falls include:

Bruises, Cuts, and Scrapes

Sprains and fractures, shoulder dislocation  , hip fractures  , head and brain injuries  , back and spine injuries  , neck injuries, knee injuries, who is liable for slip and fall injuries.

The most common person liable for slip and fall injuries is the property owner where the fall occurred. However, other, third-parties may be responsible as well.

What is a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall?

• Slip-and-fall - These accidents occur when a slippery liquid, wetness, or object causes the fall. For example, slipping on a puddle of soda not cleaned up in a convenience store; a walkway that hasn't been de-iced; or beads left on the floor in a craft store.
• Trip-and-fall - As the name implies, these accidents occur when a person trips over an object in their path or over an uneven surface. This usually occurs when something is left in the pathway, like a case of orange juice in a grocery store. Also, uneven surfaces like a raised crack in a sidewalk or an abnormally high doorjamb may cause the fall.
• Step-and-fall - This is the most rarely used term in fall injury, but it is different from the others. This accident occurs when the fall is caused by a hole or a low spot in the path. Also, a missing step on a staircase may be the culprit. For example, someone fails to fill in a pothole on the walkway in front of their business or the bottom step of a staircase is missing in an apartment building.

Collecting Evidence of a Slip and Fall Accident

• Take Pictures - If possible after the fall, take pictures to document the circumstances. Most people have a smartphone these days (or at least a phone with a camera built-in), so taking pictures of the conditions is easier than ever. Be sure to document the surrounding area where the fall took place; as well as, any spills, objects, or items that might have contributed to the fall. If you are too injured and not immediately able, have someone you know to take them as soon as possible.
• Gather Witness Information - If anyone saw your fall, make sure you get their name and contact information in case you need to recount what they saw later. Having eyewitness testimony can be pivotal to your claim by corroborating your story.
• Get a Copy - At most large stores and businesses, an accident report is often required as part of their accident policy. If one is filled out, make sure you obtain a copy of it. It is your right to gain the information they have gathered about your incident. You are not required to sign anything or go through a lengthy account of the events. In fact, you should not do so. Answer basic questions about the event and move on with getting help and collecting evidence.
• Seek Medical Attention - After being injured, it is important that you visit a hospital or doctor as soon as possible. The more time that passes between the incident and examination by a medical professional, the more difficult it will be to prove that any injuries occurred as a direct result of the fall. If possible, make note of what symptoms you are aware of and any complaints of injuries you may have. Do not wait to see if injuries will heal by themselves. Some injuries take time to show up, but being examined right away can help discover unseen problems, as well as, prevent worsening or unforeseen complications.
• Contact an Attorney - Personal injury cases can be complicated and tricky. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that want to spend less and make more. Hiring a competent personal injury attorney is empirical to making sure you get the compensation you deserve. Once hired, an experienced attorney will help gather evidence through investigators, begin compiling your case, and evaluating all the components. Be sure to give them all the information you have so diligently gathered, like photos, witnesses' information, statements, notes, and medical bills.

Proving Slip and Fall Fault

• Duty of care . The property owner or business owed a duty of care (see this article for a list of common terms and definitions) to the injured person. For example, when a store is open for business, they are inviting you to come in and shop. They are the inviter and you are the invitee. When a business invites someone onto their property, they have an obligation to make sure the property is safe.
• Reasonable care . You must prove that the store, business, or property owner failed to implement reasonable care in maintaining or operating the property. The court decides what is reasonable in each case based on the evidence. For example, is it reasonable to think that a store should clean up a spill in the main walkway within 3 hours?
• Prove cause . The third component is proving that the business or property owner caused the injury because they didn't use reasonable care to maintain their property.

Comparative Negligence

Different properties.

• Must have caused the hazard to occur or appear.
• Must have known about the hazard, and did nothing to fix it.
• Or, should have known of the hazard because a "reasonable" person in charge of the property would have discovered it, cleaned it or repaired it.
• The landlord had control over the hazard that caused the accident.
• Repairing the condition would not have been unreasonably difficult.
• A serious injury was the foreseeable consequence of not fixing the condition.
• The landlord's failure to take reasonable steps to avoid an accident caused the tenant's slip and fall injury.
• Government Property - When a slip and fall injury occurs on property owned by a local, state, or federal government entity, special rules apply. Specifically, there are very stringent notice requirements and broad immunity provisions that sometimes shield government entities from liability for injuries that occur on their property. This website can provide you with more information in the event of a slip-and-fall on government property.

Slip and Fall Injury Damages

• Medical bills and costs
• Lost wages for time off work during the incident and in the future
• Permanent disability, injury, or limitations
• Emotional distress from the trauma or injury, including PTSD
• Other costs directly related to your injury, like no longer being able to participate in a hobby or do a shared activity with loved ones

Dolman Law Group Slip and Fall Injury Attorneys

Matthew dolman, personal injury lawyer.

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone , AFFF , and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

• +1 (800) 826-0777
• VIRTUAL TOUR
• Mass Notification
• Threat Intelligence
• Employee Safety Monitoring
• Travel Risk Management
• Emergency Preparedness
• Remote Workforce
• Location and Asset Protection
• Business Continuity
• Why AlertMedia
• Who We Serve
• Customer Spotlights
• Resource Library
• Downloads & Guides

Prevent Workplace Slips, Trips, and Falls—8 Safety Tips

Mopping up a spill or double-checking a guardrail might seem like simple common sense, but slips, trips, and falls are the second most common cause of death at work. These are life-saving procedures. Keep reading for practical tips to prevent workplace accidents.

• Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards Listed
• Clarifying OSHA Standards
• Prevent Workplace Slips, Trips, and Falls

These are familiar scenarios at home: slipping on a wet floor in the kitchen and tripping over a toy left out by the kids. While annoying, these accidents are typically minor hazards in the home. You might stub your toe, but rarely are there severe consequences.

In the workplace, it’s a different and far more serious story. Slips, trips, and falls account for over 200,000 workplace injuries per year. In 2020, nearly one in five accidents leading to missed work was due to a slip, trip, or fall. They’re also the second-leading cause of workplace fatalities.

As a safety leader, you’re responsible for your company’s duty of care and for providing a safe workplace . This blog post will examine common hazards leading to slips, trips, and falls and the steps you can take to minimize injury risks for your team.

Download Our Workplace Safety Checklist

What are slip, trip, and fall hazards in the workplace.

Accidents involving slips, trips, and falls are often grouped together. While they’re similar, it’s important to understand the distinction since they each have different causes and consequences.

Slips occur when someone’s footwear loses traction with the surface they’re on, causing a loss of balance. Under some circumstances, slipping can lead to a fall.

Trips happen when someone hits their foot or lower leg on an object. As their upper body continues moving forward while their lower body remains stationary, the person may lose their balance in the process.

Falls often result from slips or trips, but they can also happen on their own. For example, a worker on a ladder or scaffolding can lose their balance and fall without slipping or tripping. Falls are also possible on flat surfaces and can still cause serious injuries.

Once you understand the hazards that lead to each type of accident, you can identify and mitigate risks in your workplace. Here are some of the most common causes of slips, trips, and falls in the workplace:

Slip Hazards

• Spills of wet or dry substances
• The cleaning process during spill removal
• Employees rushing or not paying attention to workplace conditions, especially while carrying objects
• Slippery floor surfaces such as marble or laminate
• Wet surfaces
• Poor lighting that obscures hazards
• Inappropriate footwear for the environment
• Transitioning between different types of surfaces

Trip Hazards

• Objects or obstructions in walkways
• Uneven surfaces on flooring or concrete
• Cables, cords, and hoses that aren’t properly secured or organized
• Unmarked steps or ramps
• Irregular stairs or stairs without railings
• Carpet, rugs, or mats with wrinkles or lifted edges

Fall Hazards

• Improperly used or poorly maintained ladders
• Elevated surfaces without guardrails
• Floor and wall openings
• Working in elevated environments without a safety harness
• Ill-fitting or improperly used PPE, such as helmets and safety lines

Preview the Workplace Safety Checklist

Are There OSHA Standards Related to Slips, Trips, and Falls?

Despite how common these injuries are, there is no specific OSHA standard on slips, trips, and falls. However, several OSHA rules indirectly address the same hazards.

The most important regulation to be aware of is 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D, which covers walking and working surfaces. OSHA updated the standard in 2017, introducing many upgrades to fall protection system requirements, improved employer-provided inspection guidelines, and a greater emphasis on safety training for employees.

For the construction industry, 29 CFR 1916 contains numerous fall-related regulations. Subpart M specifically addresses fall prevention, but other sections, such as Subpart L (scaffolds) and Subpart E (personal protective and lifesaving equipment), are also relevant. OSHA used 29 CFR 1916 as guidance when revising 29 CFR 1910, so the two guidelines now reflect many of the same OSHA violations .

As with any other workplace hazard or accident, OSHA recordkeeping requirements still apply in the event of a slip, trip, or fall incident. Internally, the reporting process is also an opportunity to review the details of the incident and determine how you can update your workplace safety policy to prevent similar accidents in the future.

How to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls in the Workplace

Many hazards that cause slips, trips, and falls are inevitable. However, injuries and accidents are not. To prevent slips, trips, and falls, train your employees to follow a three-step process:

• Recognize the hazard: Identify conditions that could lead to a slip, trip, or fall.
• Evaluate the hazard: Examine the situation and determine what level of risk it presents and who it affects.
• Control the hazard: Avoid the risk by removing the hazard (such as mopping up a spill) or implementing safety equipment and procedures (such as installing handrails on an elevated platform).

Here are eight workplace safety tips to prevent falls, trips, and slips.

1. Teach situational awareness

Since many causes of slips, trips, and falls are foreseeable, situational awareness in the workplace is one of the best preventative measures. Encourage your employees to pay attention to their surroundings and the risks they present:

• Look at walking surfaces for spills, obstacles, or other potential hazards
• Watch for signage that warns of increased hazards
• Be aware of conditions such as weather or time of day that might increase the risk of an accident
• Take shorter and more cautious steps on slippery surfaces

2. Encourage proper footwear

Like any other form of PPE, proper footwear can significantly reduce the risk of accidents. Research has found that slip-resistant shoes can reduce injury claims by 67% in environments with slippery work surfaces.

Employees should regularly inspect their shoes and make sure the soles aren’t worn out, as the lack of tread increases the danger of slipping. Additionally, anyone who works in conditions exposed to winter weather hazards should wear insulated boots. Cold temperatures can decrease muscle function, increasing the risk of slipping, tripping, or falling.

3. Utilize signage

Signage is an effective warning system for many workplace risks, but it can be especially effective in preventing slips, trips, and falls. There are two types of signs you can use to increase occupational safety:

• Temporary: Use warning signs while addressing a new hazard, such as cleaning up a spill, repairing a handrail, or replacing a ripped carpet. While temporary signage can help prevent injuries, you still need to address the actual hazard as quickly as possible.
• Permanent: For unavoidable hazards, such as slippery surfaces, a permanent sign can help warn employees to be careful. Use these sparingly, though, as it’s easy for people to ignore signs they see every day.

4. Keep floors clear and clean

Good housekeeping can help prevent most slips, trips, and falls. The details of keeping walking areas clean will vary widely by work environment, but there are a few common themes to encourage workplace safety:

• Report spills immediately, and warn nearby employees until someone can clean the contaminated surface
• Keep walkways clear of obstacles, loose objects, and anything that someone could trip over
• Place mats at entrances and exits so people can dry their shoes and avoid tracking water or other substances around the workplace
• Install handrails on stairways and elevated walkways

5. Apply non-slip mats and coatings

In some situations, keeping floors from becoming slippery is nearly impossible. Whether it’s liquid splashing or steam condensing, you must focus on mitigating the risk rather than avoiding it altogether.

For smaller or less demanding settings, non-slip mats can help employees maintain traction while walking around. In other cases, treating the floor with a permanent coating can help reduce slipping risks, even in the constant presence of liquids.

Who is at risk for slips, trips, and falls?

While all industries have some level of risk for a slip, trip, or fall, there are some industries where the risk is much higher, and the potential result could be much more dangerous. Here are some of the highest-risk industries:

• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Transportation/shipping/logistics
• Outdoor maintenance/groundskeeping
• Foodservice/hospitality

6. Ensure proper lighting

To identify slip, trip, and fall hazards, your employees need to be able to see their surroundings. Make sure that all of your work areas have proper lighting, especially in areas that are more prone to unsafe conditions.

While this can be a challenge in outdoor work environments, especially at night, it’s even more critical in those situations. Environmental conditions can lead to increased risks, and employees need to be able to see and avoid them. Adequate lighting should also extend to parking lots and walking areas around your facilities.

7. Develop safety programs

Your company’s safety plans and programs should include specific guidelines for preventing slips, trips, and falls. There are a few key topics to consider when developing these policies:

• The types of surfaces employees work and walk on and whether they present extra risks
• Seasonal or regional conditions that could heighten hazards, such as winter weather threats
• Specific OSHA regulations that apply to your workplace
• Potentially hazardous equipment training such as ladder safety
• Regular inspection plans to ensure your team is maintaining a safe work environment
• Policies to report hazards using your company’s two-way communication platform
• First aid training , so employees are prepared to respond safely should injuries occur

8. Provide Slips, Trips, and Falls Training

Lastly, training your employees to avoid slips, trips, and falls will help keep them safe. Provide specific guidance on the environments they’ll work in and the hazards they’ll face. For example, a slips, trips, and falls safety talk for food service workers should focus on wet floors and walking safely in crowded, fast-paced environments. Conversely, office workers could use extra reminders to watch for stray power cords and keep walkways clear of boxes, files, and other tripping hazards.

Working slips, trips, and falls into your safety topics for meetings is also helpful. Regular safety talks or safety moments are an excellent opportunity to remind your team about seasonal risks or update them on newly installed safety measures.

Don’t Let Your Safety Standards Slip

Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common workplace injuries. Fortunately, you can usually prevent them with proper planning and safety measures.

By making slip, trip, and fall prevention a part of your company’s safety culture, you can ensure your employees are aware of their surroundings and ready to look out for each other’s safety. Enable them to report hazards easily, address risks quickly, and train them to avoid situations that are likely to cause injury.

With the right planning and prevention, even the most intense work environments can be as safe as a walk in the park.

More Articles You May Be Interested In

Workplace Safety Checklist

Please complete the form below to receive this resource.

Check Your Inbox!

The document you requested has been sent to your provided email address.

Cookies are required to play this video.

Click the blue shield icon on the bottom left of your screen to edit your cookie preferences.

• Safety Newz
• Reports & Checklists
• Locate a Walkway Auditor
• Logo Policy
• Become a Member

Slip & Fall Quick Facts

The NFSI obtains up-to-date information on same level, slip and fall occurrences collected from a wide range of sources including governmental databases, private industry loss data, and insurance company loss data. Two helpful sites for up-to-date statistics are:

• Fall fatalities are nearly equally divided between men and women. However, more women will experience a slip-and-fall accident. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls accounted for 5% of the job-related fatalities for women compared to 11% for men.
• Falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits, representing the leading cause of visits (21.3%). Slips and falls account for over 1 million visits, or 12% of total falls.
• Fractures are the most serious consequences of falls and occur in 5% of all people who fall.
• Slips and falls do not constitute a primary cause of fatal occupational injuries, but represent the primary cause of lost days from work.
• Slips and falls are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims and are the leading cause of occupational injury for people aged 55 years and older. If you are thinking about making a workers’ compensation claim then you might want to take a look at using someone like the house of workers compensation lawyers to help you with your claim.
• According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), floors and flooring materials contribute directly to more than 2 million fall injuries each year.
• Half of all accidental deaths in the home are caused by a fall. Most fall injuries in the home happen at ground level, not from an elevation.
• Of all fractures from falls, hip fractures are the most serious and lead to the greatest health problems and number of deaths. The following statistics describe the slip-and-fall crisis affecting our nation’s elderly.
• Each year in the United States, one of every three persons over the age of 65 will experience a fall. Half of which are repeat fallers.
• According to the CDC In 2005, more than 15,000 people over the age of 65 died as a result of a fall. Up from 7,700 a decade earlier.
• The CDC also reports that approximately 1.8 million people over the age of 65 were treated in an emergency room as a result of a fall.
• For people aged 65-84 years, falls are the second leading cause of injury-related death; for those aged 85 years or older, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death.
• Incidence of falls goes up with each decade of life.
• Of all deaths associated with falls, 60% involve people aged 75 years or older.
• Falls account for 87% of all fractures among people over the age of 65 and are the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries and brain injury symptoms .
• Half of all elderly adults (over the age of 65) hospitalized for hip fractures cannot return home or live independently after the fracture.
• Falls represent 40% of all nursing home admissions and are the sixth leading cause of death among people aged 70 years or older.
• Over 60% of nursing homes residents will fall each year.
• According to The National Institute on Aging, every year 30% of people over the age of 65 will sustain a fall, of which 10% will result in a serious injury.
• 67% of fall fatalities are among people aged 75 years or older.
• People over the age of 85 are 10-15 times more likely to experience a hip fracture than are people aged 60-65 years.
• 85% of worker’s compensation claims are attributed to employees slipping on slick floors (Industrial Safety & Occupational Health Markets 5th edition)
• 22% of slip/fall incidents resulted in more than 31 days away from work (US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2002).
• Compensation & medical costs associated with employee slip/fall accidents is approximately $70 billion annually (National Safety Council Injury Facts 2003 edition).
• Occupational fatalities due to falls are approximately 600 per year down from 1200 during since the 1970s.
• Total injuries due to falls estimated at $13-14 million per year in U.S. Falls are the number one cause of accidental injury, resulting in 20.8 percent of all emergency room visits in 1995. (Motor vehicle accidents accounted for 11.9 percent of ER visits.)
• Disabling (temporary and permanent) occupational injuries due to falls are approximately $250,000-$300,000 per year.
• Falls occur in virtually all manufacturing and service sectors. Fatal falls however are in construction, mining and certain maintenance activities.
• According to Workers Compensation statistics from ITT-Hartford Insurance Company, falls account for 16% of all claims and 26% of all costs. This compares to 33% of costs associated with sprains and strains.
• According to the American Trucking Association, slips and falls are the leading cause of compensable injury in the trucking industry. 
• Falls from elevation (approximately 40% of compensable fall cases, approximately 10% of occupational fatalities).
• Falls on the same level (approximately 60% of compensable fall cases). (W. Monroe Keyserling, Ph.D. 2000)

• Forklift Accidents
• Heavy Machinery Accidents
• Fatal Work Injury
• Carpal Tunnel
• Workers’ Comp Benefits
• Types of Workplace Accidents
• Car Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability
• Slip and Fall
• Truck Accident
• Workers’ Comp
• Wrongful Death
• Sandy Springs
• Client Reviews
• About Our Law Firm
• Case Results
• Our Attorneys
• Atlanta Office
• Personal Injury Resources
• Downtown Atlanta Office
• Savannah Office
• Video Center
• Join Our Team

Slip & Fall and Trip & Fall Accidents: Similarities & Differences

Hasner Law | Premises Liability | December 21, 2020

According to CDC’s most recent data , falls are the leading cause of accidental injuries in the United States. With every decade of life, the risk of a fall grows greater. The prevalence of accidental slip, trip, and fall injuries leaves many people in need of legal assistance to recover damages.

If you’ve been injured in a fall, you’ll likely hear one of two terms to describe the incident: slip & fall or trip & fall . While the two are very similar and can both warrant a personal injury attorney, there are a few key differences that determine which category your accident falls into.

Slip vs. Trip: Why Semantics Matter Here

Slip and trip might be synonyms, but when it comes to personal injury claims, they can’t be used interchangeably. Lawyers approach slip & fall accidents differently than they approach trip & fall accidents. 

Knowing the proper classification is the first step toward deciding how to gather information and approach the claim. The type of fall may also determine how much compensation the injured party qualifies for.

Slip & Fall Accidents

A slip & fall accident happens when a person falls as a result of walking on a slippery surface. 

Slippery surfaces may include:

• Hard floors that are wet, perhaps as a result of mopping, spills, overflows, or condensation
• Hard floors that have been waxed
• Carpets that create little friction
• Round objects on the ground

Slippery surfaces can’t always be prevented—it’s probably a good thing that hard floors get mopped and waxed from time to time—but typically, we walk with caution when we know a slippery surface is ahead to avoid falling. A slip & fall accident usually happens when someone thinks they have more traction than they do, and their feet or shoes lose grip.

When a person slips, their foot slides forward instead of gripping the ground. This causes the rest of their weight to shift back and results in a backward fall. 

The rearward nature of a slip & fall accident affects specific parts of the body and can result in any of the following injuries:

• Sprained wrists and ankles
• Shoulder dislocation
• Back injury
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spine and nerve damage
• Hip problems

Slip & fall accidents can cause external injuries depending on the situation, but almost always, the primary damage is internal.

Trip & Fall Accidents

A trip & fall accident happens when someone trips on an object and can’t bring their back leg forward quick enough to stop them from tumbling. Just about any object obstructing a walkway can cause a person to trip. 

Common culprits of trip & falls include:

• Items left on the floor (e.g., boxes, toys, tools)
• Uneven sidewalks
• Unmarked steps or camouflaged changes in elevation
• Objects hidden in dim-lit areas

Tripping is a result of someone misjudging the distance between their feet and an object or failing to notice the object entirely. When a person trips, their foot gets stuck on the object in the way while their body continues moving forward. This causes the person to fall forward, not backward like with a slip & fall accident.

Forward falls trigger different reflexes and affect different areas of the body than backward falls. Common outcomes include:

• Broken fingers
• Sprained thumbs
• Broken or fractured arms
• Foot injuries
• Neck and face injuries
• Cuts and scrapes

Trip & fall accidents can be a little bit easier to form a negligence case around because generally, the property manager or owner should have been aware of the potential hazard before the incident occurred. By failing to remove the obstacle or warn people of its existence, they assume some (or all) of the blame.

What to Do After an Accidental Fall

If you find yourself a victim of a slip & fall or trip & fall accident, there are a few things you should do in order to build a strong premises liability case down the road.

1. Seek Medical Treatment

Your health is the most important matter to attend to after a slip, trip, or fall. Getting medical attention for your injuries will not only help your recovery but will create official documentation of your injuries that will come in handy for any legal action you choose to take.

2. Report the Accident

Falls can happen anywhere—at work, in the supermarket, at a friend’s place, or in a park. It’s important to identify the authority of the property where the incident occurred and report the accident. The authority might be a manager, landlord, supervisor, or property owner. Ask whoever’s in charge to put the report in writing and share a copy with you.

3. Document Everything

There’s a lot of information that can come in handy with claims involving slips, trips, and falls. These are pieces of evidence you can start to gather once you’re physically able:

• Document the date, time, and exact location of the accident.
• Write down what you were doing when you slipped or tripped while it’s fresh in your mind.
• Get a photo of the place where you fell and, if possible, any of the conditions that contributed to your injury, like ice, wet spots, or unmarked stairs.
• Collect information for anyone who witnessed the fall—that includes names, phone numbers, addresses, and emails. Their testimony may come in handy.
• Put the shoes and clothes you were wearing in a safe place. Believe it or not, what you’re wearing makes a difference.

Like with any other potential lawsuit, organized documentation and ample evidence can go a long way toward receiving compensation for damages caused.

4. Don’t Give Any Statements

Until you have legal counsel, it’s best practice to avoid giving anyone statements—especially ones that place or accept blame. Don’t talk about the incident on social media, decline to give statements to any involved insurance company, and be careful what you say to managers and landlords. An attorney will know the best way to approach the situation, and anything you say before speaking to one can potentially hurt your case.

5. Get in Touch With a Lawyer

After suffering a slip, trip, or fall, it’s important to get legal representation that knows the ins and outs of injury law. Present your documentation to an attorney that specializes in slip & fall and trip & fall litigation so that they can advise your next steps and help you get fair compensation for your injuries.

Contact the Atlanta Premises Liability Lawyers at Hasner Law PC For Help

For more information, please  contact  the  Atlanta  premises liability law firm of  Hasner Law P.C.  at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We serve in  Fulton County , Chatham County, and its surrounding areas:

Hasner Law PC – Atlanta Law Office 2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050 Atlanta, GA 30339 (678) 888-4878

Hasner Law PC – Savannah Law Office 221 W York St Savannah, GA 31401 (912) 234-2334

• Bicycle Accidents
• Birth injuries
• Brain Injury
• Construction Accidents
• Georgia Law
• Medical Malpractice
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accident
• Personal Injury
• Savannah News
• Truck Accidents
• Uber/Lyft Accidents
• Workers' Compensation
• Workplace Accidents
• Workplace Injuries
• Wrongful death

Contact Form - new

Get help every step of the way, book your free consultation. we're here for you 24/7..

Slips, Trips, and Falls: Even a Minor Accident Needs Reporting

When it comes to incident reporting, making sure you have a record of all the slips, trips, and falls that occur on the job is crucial. Here’s why.

Incident reporting for every little thing can certainly seem like a tedious task. While no one will deny the importance of making sure major injuries are documented, when it comes to minor incidents that don’t seem to result in any injury, all that paperwork feels like a waste of time.

This is often the case when it comes to slips, trips and falls at the workplace. Yet the truth is that incident reporting for slips, trips and falls, even those that leave workers looking and feeling fine, is just as important as when there’s a major injury.

Why Injury-Free Incidents Need Reporting

Around 25,000 of slips, trips, and fall accidents occur in the US every day according to the National Safety Council, with a high potential for major injury. But just because one worker slips or trips and somehow avoids hurting themselves doesn’t mean the next employee will be so lucky. That’s where incident reporting of slips, trips and falls come into play, even when there aren’t any injuries.

Manufacturing safety managers have a lot on their plates at every given moment. Unless they’re constantly walking the production floor they can’t possibly spot every slip-and-fall hazard out there, and that means that it’s often only until an incident report is filed that managers become aware of a possible problem.

Identifying areas or situations that led to a slip or a trip in the past paves the way for managers to take steps to rectify the problem, thus preventing further incidents in the future. This not only prevents additional accidents but reduces the chances of a worker suffering serious injury next time.

Protecting Your Business — And Your Workers

Meanwhile, there’s another reason why incident reporting is co crucial when it comes to slips, trips and falls. Incident reports are vital support documentation when it comes to making liability or workers’ compensation claims, as the details recorded in these incident reports are often used as evidence in the decision to pay out on these claims.

This protects a company’s interests in that it reduces workers claiming to have been injured severely on the job when, in fact, injuries were minor. It can also stand as a record of any contributory negligence on the part of an employee when it comes to responsibility for slips, trips and falls.

Conversely, it also helps to protect the rights of workers who legitimately suffered injuries through no fault of their own and who might desperately need the support that workers’ compensation claims can provide.

Reporting Slips, Trips, and Injuries with Incident Management Software

Slips, trips, and injuries happen even in the best environments. Mistakes happen. In some cases, there is no way to prevent these risks from occurring. However, a simple slip can be made much worse if your company does not properly report it and look for ways to avoid similar incidents in the future. That’s a lost opportunity. 

Incident management software can make it much easier for the organization to learn from each incident. It provides you with a foolproof solution for documenting what occurred so that you can move past the risk and learn from it.

What Are The Benefits of Incident Reporting Software?

This easy-to-use solution gives you the best possible avenue for not just gathering information, but creating an incident report that's comprehensive. Incident management software can offer numerous benefits including:

• Helping you through your own incident investigation to ensure all information is made available, organized and understood
• Creating the requirement to investigate based on the severity of the incident
• Helping you gather and store all relevant documentation and data in one place
• Allowing for the reporting of relevant investigative findings and associated details
• Providing a mechanism for the identification and assignment of corrective actions

Any type of business can benefit from the investment in this type of safety incident reporting software . The reasons are clear. As a business, you need to document all types of slips, trips, and falls whether they happen with your employees or your customers. More so, you need to meet all requirements for workers' compensation, insurance plans, and state laws. This differs from one state to the next as well as one industry to the next. Even if you have never had an incident at your location, you need effective software on hand to help you to minimize the risk of missing important data.

With the help of this type of software, your business can effectively:

• Determine what happened
• Loop in all management and involved personnel
• Create a detailed report of the findings
• Ensure all insurance companies and involved parties have the documentation necessary
• Determine the root causes
• Create safety solutions to minimize the likelihood of these types of workplace accidents happening in the future

Ultimately, as a safety professional , you want to take every step possible to reduce the number of incidents that happen on your property. With incident reporting software, you'll have the tools to gather information, store them, and use them to make better decisions in the future. It can pay for itself quickly by helping you to prevent future incidents.

Building a Safer Workplace

Incident reporting is an important facet of workplace safety. Even in instances where slips, trips, and falls don’t lead to any discernible injuries, these incidents need to be recorded to provide an avenue for improving safety in the future, to protect a company’s best interests, and to ensure that workers who are fairly entitled to compensation receive what they need in the event of an injury.

Similar posts

"how do you do that" blog series- question 6: responses.

What is a good way to handle ineffective responses from safety leadership? Here's what you need to know.

Conveyor Belt Safety in the Workplace

When it comes to conveyor belt safety in the workplace, there are some specific rules and regulations you need to follow. Here’s what you need to...

A Business Owner's Guide to Workplace Safety

Ensuring safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility, but as a business owner, the buck stops with you. Here’s what you should know.

Get notified on new marketing insights

Be the first to know about new B2B SaaS Marketing insights to build or refine your marketing function with the tools and knowledge of today’s industry.

Educating Injury Victims

• Slip and Fall
• How to File a Claim
• Writing a Report
• Sample Incident Report

Sample Slip and Fall Incident Report Form

Make sure there’s a written report for slip and falls away from home. use this form if the property manager didn’t make an incident report..

If you suffer a slip and fall injury on someone else’s property, you have the right to seek compensation. Usually, that means filing a claim with the property owner’s liability insurance carrier. However, you won’t get far with an injury claim unless you can establish when and where you got hurt.

Never leave the scene of a slip and fall without reporting the incident . Most stores and other businesses will have an incident report form to be filled out by you or the store management. You can ask for a copy of the completed form, but most businesses won’t give you a copy just by asking. It’s enough to know that a written report of your fall is on record.

If the property owner or manager says they don’t fill out an incident report form for accidents like yours, get the name of the employee you notified, then use this free resource to create your own written incident report.

Click on the image below to download the PDF report form:

Documenting Your Slip and Fall Is Vital

What happens after a slip and fall accident can make or break your claim. The worst thing you can do after a slip and fall is to pick yourself up and leave in embarrassment. You may have sustained significant injuries that won’t be apparent for several hours. After the shock and adrenaline from a violent fall wears off, your pain and other symptoms will show.

You must connect your slip and fall injuries to the date, time, and location of the accident.

After a fall, ask an employee or a bystander to get the manager. Tell the manager you want an incident report made of your fall. Give them your name and contact information. If they say they don’t use an incident report form, get the name of the employees or manager you spoke to at the scene.

If your injuries are immediately obvious, your first priority is to get emergency medical attention. Never refuse medical attention at the scene. If an ambulance has been called, let the paramedics look you over. Cooperate if they want to take you to the hospital. The ambulance report will document the place and date of your injuries.

Waiting to report your injury can seriously undermine your chances of getting fair compensation, as will a delay in medical treatment. Any insurance company will use a delay as an excuse to deny your injury claim. The adjuster will argue that your injuries did not happen on their insured’s property.

How to Use This Slip and Fall Incident Report Form

If you aren’t sure that the property owner filed an incident report after your slip and fall accident, fill out this handy incident report form as soon as possible after the accident.

The top of the report form is for the date and time of your slip and fall, the business name and address, where you fell (like a parking lot, produce section, etc.), and the names of the store employees you talked to. You’ll also fill in your contact information and the date you are preparing the incident report.

Provide as much information as you can in the sections provided. Be factual. Don’t offer opinions or criticism.

Describe the incident in detail, including where you were on the property and how you fell. Be specific if there was a wet floor , debris in the walkway, ice or snow , or any other hazardous condition that led to your fall.

Be sure to point out that there were no wet floor signs or other warnings of the danger, and there was nothing you could have done to prevent your fall.

You won’t know the extent of your injuries, but you can describe the pain you experienced, any numbness, swelling, or bruising that’s immediately apparent. Also describe if you were unable to move a body part, or unable to walk properly, or unable to stand without help.

The incident report should include any treatments you got at the scene (including first aid from an employee) or immediately afterward.

Include the name and contact information for any witnesses to your slip and fall , even if the witness was a friend or family member.

Sign and date your incident report form. Make a copy of the first page to mail to the property owner. Keep the original to put in your injury claim file .

Helpful Tips After a Slip and Fall

Never make excuses or apologize for a slip and fall. You may be embarrassed, but this is not the time to make jokes about being clumsy or say, “ Only my pride was injured. ”

If you aren’t taken directly to the hospital after a slip and fall, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible, preferably the same day. You can see your primary health care provider, visit an urgent care center, or go to the hospital emergency room.

Be sure to tell every medical provider exactly when, where, and how you were injured.

Write down everything you can remember while the circumstances surrounding the slip and fall are fresh in your mind. No detail is too small for your injury diary. For example, if someone who works where you fell apologized or made excuses for the hazard that caused your fall, that information can help your injury claim.

Whether you decide to handle your own slip and fall claim or hire a personal injury attorney,  an incident report and timely medical attention can help you get the injury compensation you deserve.

How Much is Your Injury Claim Worth?

Find out now with a FREE case review from an attorney…

• Your Accident
• Contact Info
• Your Evaluation

So far so good! Please answer a few more questions and then click "Go to Last Step"

Unfortunately, based on your answers we can’t provide a case review. But you may qualify for pre-settlement funding.

This funding gives you the money you need to cover personal expenses now. Approval takes < 24 hours with no credit checks and no obligation — you only pay it back if you win your claim. Funding can range from $500-$100,000, depending on your case and needs.

We respect your privacy. The only person who may contact you is a licensed attorney who can help.

By submitting, you agree to the Terms & Conditions. You consent that the law firm you are matched with or a call center may contact you by phone and/or text, even if you are on a Do Not Call Registry. You agree these messages may be auto-dialed or pre-recorded, and consent is not a condition of purchase.

Unfortunately, based on your answers, we will not be able to help you. But that does not mean you do not qualify.

Please use the button below to see how else we can help.

View More Options for Help with your Injury

• Attorney Info

Please answer a few more questions and then click "Go to Last Step"

By submitting, you agree to the Terms & Conditions. You consent that the funding company you are matched with or a call center may contact you by phone and/or text, even if you are on a Do Not Call Registry. You agree these messages may be auto-dialed or pre-recorded, and consent is not a condition of purchase.

Success. You will be contacted soon about your funding.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may qualify for a settlement. Click here to see if you qualify now .

Find out now with a FREE case review from an attorney…

1 st Reporting

Slip, Trip, and Fall Incident Report (2023 Edition)

Slips or trip and fall reports are a necessary part of incident management. Slips and falls account for the most considerable portion of workplace injuries that result in lost time accidents. Due to the potential severity of such seemingly trivial events, instituting a proper trip and fall report into your organization becomes essential.

Organizations use a slip, trip, and fall report in the workplace to record observations of a slip, trip, and fall incident. As this type of incident is the most common, it becomes clear that a dedicated form for standardized reporting is obviously needed across industries and organizations.

This guide will outline what needs to be on a slip, trip, and fall report, why they are so critical, how to use the report, and further best practices for your team. Furthermore, we have a downloadable PDF or a digital version of our form on the 1st Reporting app for you. Stick with us until the end, and you’ll learn some valuable tips and insights into how you can reduce the risk of these common injuries and create a safer workplace (while simultaneously making your job easier). Let’s get started. 

Table of Contents

Included in the Slip, Trip, and Fall Report Template

You’ll notice that our Slip, Trip, and Fall Report Template includes six conveniently separated regions. I recommend you bookmark this page to reference it later to help you train your team on the report’s intended use. Let’s talk briefly about what we’ve included in the separated regions of our Slip, Trip, and Fall Report Template.

Administrative Data

At the top of the ST&F Report (Slip, Trip, and Fall Report), you’ll notice that there is a convenient section to include data such as the name and contact of the injured party, the location, date, and time of the incident, the date and time of the report creation and when the incident was initially reported. Further details are also included to ensure ease of information sharing. Furthermore, this information is critical to properly sort, file, store, and retrieve your paper reports.

Description of Incident

For obvious reasons, a detailed description of the incident is needed on the form. We’ve provided ample space for your report creator to include the information. Remember to provide this information clearly and concisely, without judgment or malice. The key here is impartiality. You want to record the events as they unfolded and refrain from including personal judgments or assumptions. Remember, the intent here is to document observations objectively and without bias.

Description of Injuries

Following the incident description, which is vital for your Root Cause Analysis, we’ve included an area to document the extent of the injured party’s injuries. Again, it’s critical to reserve judgment and only record observations truthfully and without bias.

Treatment Provided

Treatments as simple as washing a cut and putting on a bandage are still treatments provided. Ensure that in the case of a slip, trip, and fall event, you record and document the event in its entirety. To properly analyze and work toward incident prevention, all information relevant to the scenario must be found in your report. Documenting treatment is also required in terms of liability. Whether it’s one of your team administering emergency first aid or even calling 911, either way is an action to provide or have a professional provide treatment.

Witness Information

When an accident happens, you must record any witnesses present and privy to the incident. Anyone who saw what happened should have their name and contact information on the slip, trip, and fall report. This contact information may be vital later, so don’t skip noting witness information.

Finally, the bottom of our slip, trip, and fall report contains a section for your report writer to sign off on the report’s authenticity and provide a completion date. Adding these pieces of information provides two critical things. First, a signature pushes team members to complete their reports honestly and as directed or requested. Secondly, it provides a means of knowing when the report was completed.

How to Use a Trip and Fall Report Form

Using our trip and fall report is straightforward. You only need to download our form and print as many copies as you see fit. Remember that the annual percentage of workers who will face a slip and fall incident is typically around 2.5-3%. For every 100 team members, you can anticipate 3 of them having a lost time accident due to a fall every calendar year. Remember that these are average numbers based on historical data, and the better you prepare and prevent, the lower your chances of having an at-work incident.

Tips For Managing Slips or Trip and Fall Reporting

Slips, trips, and falls are nothing new in the workplace. No matter the country or industry, we all face daily risks at work. Seton.co.uk says 29% of all workplace accidents reported are slips, trips, or falls. That’s a third of all reported injuries at work in the UK. That’s a significant number, and it’s no different in North American countries.

Luckily, we’ve got much experience in reporting injuries. You might say we are experts in workplace reporting and documentation. That said, we’ve compiled a list of the best things you can do to make a difference in your organization.

Standardize Procedures

Encourage hazard recognition and jobsite awareness, implement strict engineering and administrative controls, don’t forsake training, implement digital report solutions.

To make the most of these tips, let’s dig a little deeper into each to find out the best way to implement them into your operations.

I can’t stress enough how essential it is to define procedures for injury incidents. These types of incidents are critical to handle appropriately and not just to come to the aid of the injured party. Given the nature of injuries at work, it’s easy to understand how team members might be too stressed or flustered to deal with an injury incident appropriately. 

Due to the importance of handling injuries properly, we’ve created the Injury Procedure Checklist – a tool you and your team can use to ensure that all team members follow the proper steps in dealing with an injury incident at work.

I’ve worked at plenty of companies where bad cultural practices discourage safety. You know, the types, those managers who tease or taunt team members over safety concerns. These sorts of occasions call for more level-headed approaches to management.

The best thing you can do, whether a manager or a worker, is to encourage safety, safety awareness, and hazard recognition. Here’s how:

• Thank coworkers for their input.
• Discourage anyone from behaving in a way that makes people feel pessimistic about addressing safety concerns.
• Listen and act: When a team member shares a safety concern, listen to them and act accordingly to help prevent or mitigate threats and hazards.

Implementation of strict engineering controls and administrative controls to prevent and stop injury incidents is critical to a successful health and safety policy. Ensure that your maintenance team is capable of dealing with safety concerns promptly. Maintaining an intelligent work order document control system will help to ensure that safety concerns don’t retain their hazard for longer than necessary.

Training is vital to a safe work environment. Management often thinks of training negatively because it is a cost of business without an apparent return on investment. However, the cost of loss of life and limb is always higher than the cost of training. 

The biggest mistake I’ve seen in companies over the years is their neglect of refresher safety training. Furthermore, I’ve witnessed far too many lazy managers joke about the lack of importance of safety training. Remember that problems in companies usually start at the top and trickle down. So, if you want a safe work environment, you need to work to maintain it actively.

Implementing a digital reporting system was one of the smartest moves I have ever made in operations management. I can’t tell you how many times paperwork came back incomplete, messy, or didn’t come back at all. Digital reporting changes all of that in an instant.

Take the 1st Reporting app, for example. It’s easy to install on any Android or iOS device, works with your desktop or laptop, and even works with the Microsoft Teams® environment. Furthermore, the customizable template builder makes the app reporting custom to your operations (very convenient).

Despite the money saved from not printing paper reports (ink gets expensive, fast), the greatest savings are from the efficient and effective means of reporting and documenting incidents, inspections, audits, and even things like daily shift reports or other reports.

1st Reporting delivers an all-inclusive reporting management experience, from mobile form completion in the field to form customization for your entire organization. It’s my go-to for GPS-accurate reporting solutions. It works on the fly, in the field, and even when out of a cellular signal.

Please don’t take my word for it; take your competitors’ word (they are probably already using 1st). The only question remains: Why haven’t you implemented digital reporting in your organization yet?

Join the globally-recognized brands that trust 1st Reporting to safeguard their organizations!

Privacy Overview

Customize your template.

Work with our team of experts to customize our templates to your exact business needs.

• First Name *
• Last Name *
• Phone Number *
• Changes Requested
• By submitting your information you agree to receive email marketing and promotional communications from 1st Incident Reporting
• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Free Template Download

• I would like to learn more about a digital solution to manage my reports
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

• Entertainment
• Submit Your Story

Student hospitalised after 'fall' at Shropshire children's adventure centre

A student has been hospitalised after falling at a children's adventure centre over the weekend.

Watch more of our videos on Shots! and live on Freeview channel 276

The managers of a residential adventure centre have confirmed a student was taken to hospital after an incident at the weekend.

Emergency services were called to Condover Hall, south of Shrewsbury, on Saturday at around 8pm.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called to reports of a patient who had fallen near to Church Street in Condover at 7.57pm on Saturday, one ambulance attended the scene.

"On arrival, we discovered one female patient, who following treatment at the scene, was taken to hospital for further assessment."

The three-storey Elizabethan manor was bought by residential adventure company, JCA Adventure in 2010.

Richard Twynam, managing director of JCA, said: "We regret to confirm an incident occurred resulting in a student being hospitalised.

"Our immediate priority is to support all those involved and to ensure a full and thorough investigation.

"We are unable to provide further details at this time."

Shropshire Council, which is leading the investigation, said they were "very sorry" to hear of the "unfortunate incident".

Rachel Robinson, Director of Public Health, said: "Shropshire Council’s public protection team are working with the activity provider to investigate the incident and understand what the issues were, and how and where they were caused.

"Since this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot provide further information at this time."

Plans submitted for new food store on site of former Telford newspaper offices Plus Business | 12 hours ago

Homeless housing plan for former town-centre student accommodation Shrewsbury | 12 hours ago

Ten-hour thunderstorm warning covering Shropshire issued by Met Office Environment | 14 hours ago

Woman who died at beauty spot identified as Shropshire-based GP Oswestry | 21 hours ago

Plans for green waste charge confirmed – and future of Shropshire recycling centres revealed Politics | 7 hours ago

Politics latest: Starmer jets off for first NATO summit - and in 'stronger position' than many allies

Sir Keir Starmer is on his way to his first NATO summit as prime minister, hosted in Washington DC. It comes after he sat opposite Rishi Sunak in the first sitting of the new parliament since last week's general election.

Tuesday 9 July 2024 22:55, UK

• General Election 2024

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• PM jets off for NATO summit
• Mark Stone analysis: Starmer in much stronger position than allies
• Health secretary 'optimistic' after junior doctor talks
• Committee key to Tory leadership race elects new chair
• Tory mayor attacks 'cack-handed' Braverman after Pride comments
• Highlights from parliament's return: Starmer speaks in Commons for first time as PM | Sunak vows 'effective' opposition | Farage makes debut with dig over Brexit | Commons Speaker re-elected
• Sam Coates analysis: A spirit of unity - but still moments of politics
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler

Thanks for joining us for a very busy day for the new Labour government - and there's plenty more to come this week.

You can scroll through the page for today's updates, or check our 10pm post for a round-up of Tuesday's most significant news.

We'll be back at 6am with all the latest from Westminster.

The chancellor has revealed plans for a new national wealth fund designed to attract billions in private sector investment.

The new Labour government said it has allocated £7.3bn in additional state funding to support the plan.

The proposals include reforms to the state-owned British Business Bank.

Rachel Reeves met with a nine-strong National Wealth Fund Taskforce at Number 11 Downing Street in order to launch the plans.

The taskforce includes former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, Barclays chief executive officer CS Venkatakrishnan and Aviva chief executive Amanda Blanc.

'Further, faster'

Ms Reeves said the funding will be used to target green and high-growth British industries, stressing there is "no time to waste".

The chancellor added: "We need to go further and faster if we are to fix the foundations of our economy to rebuild Britain and make every part of our country better off."

It's the end of the day - which means it's time for a round-up of the main things you need to know from the Politics Hub.

• Sir Keir Starmer is en route to Washington DC as you read this for his first NATO summit, where he'll meet world leaders including Joe Biden;
• Our US correspondent Mark Stoke says he goes on the trip in a "much stronger position" than many of his allies, given his massive election win - we'll have live updates and analysis from the trip starting tomorrow.
• Back in the UK, parliament has returned and the Speaker re-elected, with the cabinet and shadow cabinet having been sworn in;
• Sir Keir Starmer  welcomed the diversity of the new parliament in his first Commons speech as PM, while  Rishi Sunak  vowed the Tories would be an "effective and professional" opposition;
• The return of parliament allowed the Tories to elect the chair of their backbench 1922 Committee , which runs the party's leadership contests;
• But our political correspondent Darren McCaffrey is getting the sense from Conservatives that the contest may not happen for several months, as the battle for the soul of the party commences.
• Elsewhere, Health Secretary Wes Streeting says he's "optimistic" after his first meeting with representatives of junior doctors, as he seeks an end to the pay dispute that has caused industrial action;
• Our political correspondent Tamara Cohen said there may only be "a matter of weeks" to find an agreement before the BMA union holds a vote on holding more strikes.

That's it for our final bulletin of the day - stay with us for more news and analysis through the evening.

A former army chief has warned members of NATO the world is facing "as dangerous a moment as any time that we've had since 1945" as he called on members to invest more into their arms.

General Sir Patrick Sanders, who served as chief of the general staff until last month, told The Times that Russia, China and Iran were the "new axis powers", and a third world war could break out within the next five years if action was not taken.

Arguing the countries posed even more of a threat than the Nazis in 1939, he said: "They are more interdependent and more aligned than the original axis powers were."

But the military expert said the conflict was not a foregone conclusion if NATO members, including the UK, significantly improved their arms.

You can read more from Sky News:

The UK's newest MPs might have spent the last six weeks fighting for a place in parliament - but it can still be a shock to the system once they enter it, according to those familiar with the process.

That's why House of Commons staff have spent months preparing for their arrival, working on everything from buddy schemes to starter packs and photobooks to help them get to grips with the job.

This secret team of helpers is not messing about. In fact, the first contact parliament has with newly elected representatives is at the election count itself.

Read all about how new MPs are prepared for the job here:

After the Conservative Party lost the general election, Rishi Sunak announced he would resign as leader "once the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place".

So how could the next leader be selected?

1922 committee

The body that governs Tory party leadership races is their backbench committee of MPs, the 1922 Committee.

Today, Tory MPs elected a new chair - Bob Blackman.

Decisions can now be taken about the timeframe and process of the leadership contest - although it is unclear when that will happen.

Rishi Sunak's role

As it stands, the former PM remains leader of the party and leader of the opposition. He has appointed a shadow cabinet and will fulfil the constitutional requirements of the role - for now.

Mr Sunak could agree to stay as party leader until a permanent successor is selected - in which case he will continue to carry out the opposition leader role, including facing Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs.

But he could choose to step down before the contest is concluded, which he seemed to suggest in his resignation speech, which would mean an interim leader would have to be chosen (that would likely fall to Oliver Dowden, who is the interim deputy leader).

Will the party members have a say?

There appears to be broad consensus among Tory MPs that members should get a vote on who the new party leader should be.

Short vs long

Some Tories have proposed the contest should be short, so the new leader can be in place to challenge the Labour government as soon as possible - particularly when they present their first budget in the autumn.

However, a consensus appears to be emerging that a long leadership contest is the right thing to do to ensure there is full debate on which direction the party should take.

It could mean that nominations for the new leader don't even open for a number of weeks, and then MPs could whittle down the number of candidates - or not, and members could choose between multiple people.

There have been suggestions that the contest should not conclude until after the party's conference in early October, like when David Cameron won back in 2005.

By Mark Kleinman , City editor

The boss of Hakluyt, the corporate intelligence firm, is being lined up for a top business role in Sir Keir Starmer's fledgling Labour administration.

Sky News has learnt that Varun Chandra, who has been Hakluyt's managing partner since 2019, is in advanced talks to join the government.

Sources said on Tuesday that he was likely to take on a senior business liaison role in 10 Downing Street - a role occupied by Lord Petitgas, the former Morgan Stanley banker, in Rishi Sunak's administration.

Like Lord Petitgas, Mr Chandra is an ex-Lehman Brothers banker who went on to establish the regulated business operations of Tony Blair, the former prime minister.

You can read more from Sky News here:

The UK is in a relatively unusual position as Sir Keir Starmer jets off for his first NATO summit as prime minister.

Given the struggles of Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, and some other Western leaders, our  US correspondent  Mark Stone   says the prime minister comes to Washington DC looking relatively strong given his enormous election win.

"Politically he is in a much stronger position than many colleagues he will meet," says Mark, who'll be at the summit.

Sir Keir will be among the leaders of the 31 other NATO members for a summit being described "as the biggest event of its kind for three decades" given the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Mark says that sometimes in politics "timing is luck" - "and it's certainly luck for Starmer that so soon after he took office, he is in Washington".

He'll also meet Joe Biden at the White House while he's in town.

That concludes our coverage of tonight's Politics Hub programme - it will be back again from 7pm tomorrow. Stay with us here for more news and analysis through the evening.

Our political correspondent Darren McCaffrey is outside The Spectator's depressingly rainy summer party in London - and it doesn't get more "establishment" than this, he says.

Plenty of senior Tories are there, and so is Nigel Farage.

Darren notes that although the new chairman of the 1922 Committee was confirmed as Bob Blackman tonight - the timing of a Tory leadership contest remains unclear.

"The conversation is not tonight about who should take over the Conservative Party, it's much more about this process," Darren says.

"Whether this leadership contest needs to be sorted as soon as possible - ahead of the party conference - or whether the Conservative Party should do what they decided back in 2005."

That was a really long campaign, one which ended with David Cameron taking the reins.

Darren says the consensus at the party seems to be the Conservatives need to have a think - and they need a long time, certainly until the summer has been and gone.

It means Rishi Sunak could still be leader for months to come.

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook is now asked about  Labour's decision to take "Levelling Up" out of his department's name.

It is now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Boris Johnson didn't take well to this decision, accusing the new government of a lack of ambition.

Mr Pennycook says this is "nonsense", adding: "I'd expect nothing less from the former prime minister."

He said the way the Tory government had approached levelling up was a "gimmick", with communities "held back" and "forced to bid" for "small pots of money" from Whitehall.

"We are taking a whole government approach to regional inequality," says the minister.

"It's got to run through everything we do, so the ambition remains the problem, if you like. The diagnosis was right. 

"We want to get back to basics."

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free