National Safety Month Fall Prevention Tips

Each year, the National Safety Council (NSC) designates June as National Safety Month to help bring awareness to the importance of ensuring safety in the workplace. This year, MedSafe is highlighting fall prevention and tips for reducing falls in the workplace.

Slips, trips and falls are among the leading causes of workplace injuries and death. In 2020, 805 workers died in falls, and 211,640 were injured badly enough to require days off of work. Fall injuries frequently result in disabling injuries that impact an employee's ability to do their job, often resulting in lost workdays and reduced productivity. Work-related fall injuries also create a considerable financial burden from medical costs to worker's compensation; the costs are estimated to be $70 billion annually in the United States.

Fall Prevention Tips

The good news is that most falls are preventable. There are many proactive steps employers can take to lower the risk of injury in the workplace.

1. Keep walkways clear – keep walking areas clean and clear of clutter. An unobstructed path reduces the risk of an employee slipping or tripping on an unexpected object. 
2. Clean up spills - encourage all employees to clean up any spills immediately. If a spill occurs, place warning signs around the hazard and clean it up right away to avoid an accident.
3. Make sure stairs and handrails are safe- stairs are a common area for workplace injuries to occur. Be sure to keep stairwells clear and well-lit. Make sure stairways have handrails, and the top and bottom stairs are clearly marked with reflective tape.
4. Encourage appropriate footwear- ensure employees wear the appropriate footwear for their working conditions. Non-slip shoes with traction help reduce the risk of slip and fall injuries.
5. Install proper lighting- Employers can help reduce the risk of employee slips, trips or falls by installing proper lighting both outside and inside the workplace.
6. Check and repair all flooring- check all flooring inside and outside the building to ensure there are no potential hazards such as cracks or holes. Be sure to fix any problem areas and place warning signs around areas that need repair.
7. Use signs- For areas that may be a potential hazard, use clear signage to bring attention to the problem area and reduce the risk of an accident.
8. Safety training- employee training is essential for reducing the risk of injury in the workplace. Ensure all employees have been trained adequately on safety guidelines.

Want to know more about safety training? Ask the experts at MedSafe.

If you have questions about safety training, contact the experts at MedSafe. MedSafe is the nation's leading one-stop resource for outsourced accreditation and healthcare compliance solutions. For over 20 years, we have been providing peace of mind to hospital groups, private practices, and their business associates. Our suite of onsite and online training services, including OSHA, HIPAA, Corporate Compliance and Code Auditing, equip your practice with the necessary tools and skills to achieve and maintain regulatory & billing compliance. MedSafe takes a hands-on approach and works directly with your team to uncover issues and define suitable solutions.

Contact us at: (888) MED-SAFE

Visit our website at www.medsafe.com

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-123/pdfs/2011-123.pdf?id=10.26616/NIOSHPUB2011123

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/default.html