5 easy tips to avoid painful slips, trips, and falls this summer

When it comes to trips this summer, make sure you're taking the good kind and avoiding the kind that hurt.   

“Slips, trips, and falls are one of the leading causes of injury in Oregon workplaces each year,” said Jim Nusser, safety health services adviser at SAIF. “We tend to associate them with winter hazards, but they're a year-round problem.”

SAIF's new videos show how painful — and avoidable — slips, trips, and falls can be.    

In the last five years, SAIF has accepted more than 32,000 slip, trip, and fall claims. The most common injuries were strains, contusions or bruises, sprains, and fractures.     

Here are five tips to help you stay safe at work:  

• Keep walkways clear and well-lit. Keep an eye out for common trip causes like cords and clutter.   
• Clean up spills immediately.  
• Wear appropriate shoes. Make sure your shoes are closed-toed and have good traction. Download this poster for guidance on checking your tread.   
• Slow down and stay alert. Even small changes in walking surfaces (like moving from a carpeted surface to an uncarpeted surface) can cause trips.   
• Maintain three points of contact on a ladder. Always keep two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot, on the ladder. Never use a chair, table, bucket, or box in lieu of a ladder.

More information, including free posters and handouts on slips, trips, and falls, can be found at saif.com/trips.