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Vallen Safety Moment - Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls
January 26, 2024
Winter-related slips, trips and falls have a significant impact in Canadian workplaces each year.
Winter-related slips, trips and falls have a significant impact in Canadian workplaces each year. To prevent these accidents, we need to be extra vigilant and take greater precaution in these upcoming freeze and thaw months.
Tips to Avoid Injury
To help avoid injury when walking on ice and snow:
- Walk slowly and deliberately, focused on the path ahead.
- Where possible, avoid slippery surfaces, such as icy areas and snowbanks.
- Wear appropriate footwear with slip-resistant soles to work. Traction aids that attach to your footwear can provide additional traction.
- Use handrails where available.
- Check to make sure entrance areas and stairs are clear of snow and slush. Tracked in snow and slush often causes slips and falls.
- Clean your shoes when you go inside. Caked snow and ice on shoe soles can be treacherous.
Do the Penguin Walk!
- Bend slightly and walk flat footed
- Point your feet out slightly like a penguin
- Keep your centre of gravity over your feet as much as possible
- Watch where you are stepping
- Take shorter, shuffle-like steps
- Keep your arms at your sides (not in your pockets!)
- Concentrate on keeping your balance
- Go S-L-O-W-L-Y