Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention

More than one million people suffer from a slip, trip, or fall each year and 17,700 died as a result of falls in 2005. They are the number one preventable cause of loss in the workplace and the leading cause of injury in public places. Completely revised, Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention: A Practical Handbook, Second Edition demonstrates how, with proper design and maintenance, many of these events can be prevented. This well-illustrated and carefully researched volume covers standards and best practices for facility design, effective management control programs, test methods and standards relating to pedestrian safety, and slip resistance methods in the U.S. and abroad. It includes checklists, handouts, case studies, rich online resources, and an extensive bibliography. See what's new in the Second Edition: Enhanced photographs and tables, profiles of online resources, updated examples, case studies, and sidebars A new chapter on the unique hazards and controls to protect staff and patrons in food service A new chapter on known parameters and causes of patient falls, assessment methods, and methods for reduction of staff falls Discussion of flooring and floor maintenance, cleaning products and methods, outsourcing, and maintenance Coverage of management controls, a holistic approach to integrating slip/fall prevention controls into existing functions, hazard mapping, and electronic inspection systems Physical aspects of rubber walkways surfaces, expanded floor mats, new stairway statistics, visibility, and design Roughness measurements, perception of slipperiness, overseas standards, profiles of high risk industries, and accident investigation Contrary to popular belief, most slips and falls are not due to carelessness. This handbook examines the many options available in the design and maintenance of facilities that can reduce or eliminate the potential for slips and falls.