Slips, Trips and Falls Prevention

Policy

This policy:

• outlines the health, safety and wellbeing requirements relating to the prevention and management of slips, trips and falls in schools
• supports the implementation of the department’s leadership commitment to health, safety and wellbeing (PDF).

Details

Slips, trips and falls can place employees at risk of injury including sprains, strains, fractures and soft-tissue injuries.

This policy does not cover situations that involve working at heights of 2 metres or above (measured from the soles of your feet to the ground) or circumstances where a person could fall into a hole, trench or pit. Refer to the Prevention of Falls when Working at Heights policy for this information.

Roles and responsibilities in preventing slips, trips and falls

Under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 2004 (Vic), managing the risk of slips, trips and falls is a shared responsibility between the department, the principal and/or their delegate and school employees.

• The department must maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, a safe and healthy working environment for employees to avoid injuries from slips, trips and falls while working.
• The principal and/or their delegate, in consultation with the health and safety representative (HSR) and employees, must identify, assess and control the risks that are associated with slips, trips and falls.
• School employees must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and the safety of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions while at work, which includes managing slips, trips and falls.

Safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone including students has a role to play.

Key requirements for schools to prevent and manage slips, trips and falls

Schools must:

• consult with school staff and HSRs to identify, manage and prevent slip, trip and fall hazards
• identify slips, trips and falls hazards through observation, workplace inspections and incident reports
• assess new or complex hazards using a risk assessment
• report and manage incidents when they occur
• ensure that staff undergo appropriate training
• incorporate slips, trips and falls risk prevention into an ongoing management approach that promotes health, safety and wellbeing.

The Slips, Trips and Falls Procedure (in the Procedure tab) contains detailed, step-by-step information about how schools can meet these key requirements.

Department supports for schools

Central and regional offices provide a range of supports and services to assist principals and employees to be safe and well. These include access to the OHS Advisory Service and regional OHS support officers who can provide free advice in relation to managing slips, trips and falls.

Related definitions

Slips
Slips occur when a person’s foot loses traction with the ground due to unsuitable footwear or walking on surfaces that are highly polished, wet or greasy.

Trips
Trips occur when a person’s foot catches on an object or surface. In most cases people trip on low obstacles that are hard to spot such as uneven edges in flooring, loose mats, open drawers, untidy tools or electrical cables.

Falls
Falls (under 2 metres) can result from a slip or trip but many occur during falls from low heights such as steps, stairs, and curbs, or falling into a hole, ditch or water.

Related policies

• Employee Health Safety and Wellbeing
• Managing and Reporting School Incidents (including emergencies)
• OHS Consultation and Communication
• OHS Risk Planning and Management
• Records Management – School Records
• Workers Compensation
• Workplace Safety Inspections

Relevant legislation

• Compliance code: Workplace amenities and work environment
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic)
• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)

Slips, Trips and Falls Prevention Procedure

This Slips, Trips and Falls Prevention Procedure sets out the practical step-by-step instructions that must be followed to implement the Slips, Trips and Falls Prevention policy. This procedure should be implemented in consultation with the health and safety representative/s (HSR), employees and your health and safety committee (if established).

It contains the following steps:

1. Ongoing management of slips, trips and falls prevention
2. Identifying and assessing slip, trip and fall risks and hazards
3. Controlling the risks
4. Hazard, incident and near miss reporting

1. Ongoing management of slips, trips and falls prevention

The slips, trips and falls prevention policy are part of the broader approach to managing health, safety and wellbeing in schools.

To effectively manage slips, trips and falls as part of an ongoing health, safety and wellbeing (HSW) management approach, principals and/or their delegates must:

• consult on slips, trips and falls risks and incidents, by implementing the HSW Consultation and Communication policy to ensure effective systems are in place, including regular communication forums
• document relevant slips, trips and falls risks and controls within their OHS Risk Register, by implementing the OHS Risk Management policy to ensure effective monitoring and reviewing processes are in place, including workplace inspections, risk assessments and maintenance of the risk register. These documents must be retained in accordance with the Records Management – School Records policy
• regularly monitor and review slips, trips and falls risks and controls by implementing the OHS Planning policy, including activities in the OHS Activities Calendar
• manage slips, trips and falls hazards and incidents, including through eduSafe Plus, by implementing the Managing and Reporting School Incidents (including emergencies) policy
• ensure that all staff have completed the mandatory eLearning module on Learn Ed. This must be completed as part of the employee’s induction and recommended to be refreshed every 2 years.

All employees must support ongoing prevention and safety management of slips, trips and falls through:

• the reporting of hazards, risks and incidents in the workplace using eduSafe Plus (staff login required)
• completing the mandatory eLearning module available on LearnEd (search ‘slips, trips and falls’) as specified above.

2. Identifying and assessing slip, trip and fall risks and hazards

Many causes of slips, trips and falls can be identified by being observant and vigilant of the surrounding environment. If a slip, trip or fall hazard is identified, it should be reported to the principal and/or their delegate.

Common hazards include but are not limited to:

• students sitting on the floor
• school bags left in foot traffic paths
• spills of liquid and wet cleaning methods such as mopping
• a sudden change in floor surface, for example joins between carpet and tiles
• change from wet to dry surface or dusty and sandy surfaces
• surface and incline of ramps, including those that go over kerbs and thresholds
• loose or bumpy flooring
• worn floor coverings or broken tiles and cracks in floors
• door mats not fastened to the ground, may have curling or tucked edges
• changes in floor level, thresholds, and doorstops
• electrical cords, computer cables, floor sockets and phone jacks
• chairs not pushed under tables
• sporting equipment, arts supplies and other educational aids being stored on the floor
• potholes, loose gravel, gutters and carpark bollards.

Other contributing factors include:

• inclement weather
• low light levels
• unsuitable footwear
• carrying loads that obstruct vision, such as books or boxes
• inattention or becoming distracted, such as using a mobile phone
• rushing
• fatigue
• changes to the way a space is used, such as the gym hall being used for exams, rearranging desks in a class room
• inadequate provision of safe access for people with special needs or disability.

Regular workplace inspections must be undertaken by the principal and/or their delegate to identify slips, trips and fall hazards that need to be resolved.

Once risks are identified, following the risk management procedure and conducting a risk assessment is a practical way of considering the likelihood and severity of slips, trips and fall hazards and risks and appropriate controls (using the hierarchy of control). As part of the risk assessment consideration should be given to:

• how many people are exposed
• the consequences of the slip or trip – a slip or trip with or without a fall can be more serious if it occurs near hot, sharp or moving objects, or at a height, such as near stairs
• how often the situation occurs.

The OHS Advisory Service and regional OHS support officers can provide advice on preventing and managing slips, trips and falls, including completing a risk assessment. WorkSafe Victoria also provides guidance to completing a risk assessment.

3. Controlling the risks

Many slip, trip and fall hazards can be prevented with good housekeeping to ensure a clean and organised workplace. Some risks are more difficult to control and may need a more considered approach such as:

• adding extra hooks for school bags to be hung
• ongoing encouragement of students to maintain good housekeeping
• changing or removing floor coverings
• adding power outlets to limit cords becoming disorganised or laying across walkways
• cleaning of drains and guttering to allow water to drain quickly
• installing additional lighting
• installing additional storage
• maintaining ramps, stairways and wooden walkways particularly in older buildings
• induction for safe access for people with special needs or disability.

Below are some practical suggestions to prevent and control slips, trips and fall risks.

Controlling slips

Everyone has a role to play in keeping the work area clear and taking responsibility for cleaning up their own spills.

• Ensure there are products and equipment available to clean up spills when they occur.
• Encourage students to notify teachers of spills and assist with cleaning.
• Ensure downpipes and drains are kept clear.
• Use signs and cordon off areas where floors are wet after mopping.

Controlling trips

Trips most often occur because of uneven flooring or cluttered walkways with low obstacles which are not easily visible or noticed.

• Display signage to encourage students to contribute to good housekeeping such as pushing in their chairs and hanging bags up.
• Display signs discouraging running in spaces prone to crowding.
• Keep work areas free from clutter and minimise tripping hazards in walkways such as bags, cords and loose flooring/mats.
• Ensure there is adequate storage and shelving available to store boxes, bags and so on off the floor.
• Tidy and organise electrical and computer cords so they are not in areas that people walk.

Controlling falls

Falls commonly occur when balance is lost while using unstable items to reach an item.

• When storing items, place frequently used objects in easy reach.
• Do not stand on unstable platforms such as chairs to reach items that are high up.
• Do not overreach or lean over when using step ladders.
• Step down from ladder and reposition closer to work area.
• Ensure Safe work procedure – Use of a step platform ladder (DOCX) is displayed next to step ladder storage area.

Display the Preventing slips, trips and falls in schools poster (PDF) in your school (including on your OHS Noticeboard) to remind staff, students and visitors to be aware of behaviours that reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls.

The principal and/or their delegate, in consultation with the HSR and employees, must record identified and implemented risk controls to manage slips, trips and falls risks on the school’s OHS Risk Register.

4. Hazard, incident and near miss reporting

If a slip, trip or fall results in a serious injury or emergency, call 000 and provide first aid assistance.

If a slip, trip or fall hazard is identified it should be reported to the principal and/or their delegate and/or the HSR. Hazards, incidents and near misses involving slips, trips or falls should be reported in eduSafe Plus (staff login required). eduSafe Plus can help with allocation of tasks and management of hazards.

For more information on reporting hazards and incidents, go to the Managing and Reporting School Incidents (including emergencies) policy.

Resources

Guidance and resources

• Slips, trips and falls poster (PDF – A3) – please print and display in your school
• Useful health, safety and wellbeing contacts for schools

Templates and forms

• OHS activities calendar for health, safety and wellbeing (XLSX) – for scheduling reviews on an annual basis
• OHS risk register (XLSX) – the principal and/or their delegate must complete an initial review of this, in which they identify the applicable hazards for their school and delete any entries that are not applicable
• Risk assessment template (DOCX)
• Plant and equipment risk management form (DOCX) – to be used for specific hazards that are identified
• Safe work procedure – Use of a step platform ladder (DOCX)
• Plant and equipment maintenance form (DOCX)
• Safe work procedure template (DOCX)

Useful websites

WorkSafe Victoria

• Preventing slips, trips, and falls under 2 metres
• Checklist and guidance that may help employers eliminate or reduce the risks of slips, trips and falls under 2 metres