Slips, Trips andFalls

Slips, Trips and Falls Claims 2003-2007

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Nu

mb

er o

f N

ew C

laim

s

• 46% of the Slips, Trips and Falls claims between 2003 and 2007 had no Lost Time Injury

• Of the remaining 54% of claims, the average number of days lost per claim was 9.4 days (for claims open for a year or less)

Severity of Injury 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Lost Time Injury 138 121 134 143 135

Medical Treatment Only 126 153 98 92 74

Total 264 274 232 235 209

Slips,Trips and Falls

Age of Claimants (Slips, Trips and Falls 2003-2007)

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

40.00%

45.00%

50.00%

<20 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+

Percentage Claims

Percentage DECS

Note: older staff slightly over represented

Organisational Type (Slips, Trips and Falls Claims 2003-2007)

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Integrated Preschools/Childcare

Other

Aboriginal

Family Day Care

Specialist Facilities

Support Sites

Special School

Preschool

Primary/Secondary Combined

Secondary

Primary

New Claims 2003-2007

Claims per 100 FTE by Site (Slips, Trips and Falls 2003-2007)

0 1 2 3 4 5

Integrated Preschools/Childcare

Other

Aboriginal/Anangu

Family Day Care

Specialist Facilities

Support Services

Special School

Preschool

Combined Primary/Secondary

Secondary

Primary

Claims per 100 FTE

Note: school sites have higher rates than offices

Note: teachers most common claimants

Occupation of Claimants (Slips, Trips and Falls 2003-2007)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Pre-Primary School Teacher

School Principal

Teachers' Aide

Other

Secondary School Teacher

Primary School Teacher

New Claims 2003-2007

•Slipped in puddle •Walking and stepped awkwardly •Walking down the stairs, loss of concentration•Slipped over on loose sandpit sand on concrete•Climbing a set of stairs in the school, slipped and fell•Slippery floor caused by water from shoes of persons previously entering gym •Walking around on uneven ground•Modelling the long jump, landed awkwardly•Tripped over student bag and twisted awkwardly•Walking outside maths area, lost footing, turned ankle•Walking towards car park, rolled ankle on uneven ground•Tripped over slightly raised paving brick•Walking to car, slipped on wet leaves•Tripped on a rock and fell•Walking towards a student, tripped on carpet•Playing the piano, slipped off piano stool and landed on wrist•Supervising students on the oval, walked over a hole in the oval•Going to my car at end of school day, slipped on loose gravel around car

Slips, Trips and Falls “what happened……”

2006 Slips, Trips Falls

51%

14%

11%

10%

4%

4%4% 2%

Walking, tripping on surfaces

Tripped on object

Steps

Running/Sports

Chair (collapse or fall off whilesitting)

Hanging Displays (Standing onChairs etc)

Water indoors on floor

Misc

What you can do

to raise awareness of Slips, Trips and Falls at your worksite….

Use Visual Safety Reminders

Visit the DECS Health & Safety Services Website:

Download Poster

•Prevention of Falls from Height Procedure

•Slips Trips and Fall PowerPoint Show

•Download the LOOKout poster and display it

•Download an area checklist

•Download Action Plan for Slips, Trips & Falls

•Put up Posters!

•Involve your Health & Safety Committee

•Use Business Manager to keep track of tasks

Marking trip hazards

Blue reflectors are very effective pavement edge markers

Stair strips assist in edge and depth perception

Tree protection -

No trip hazard

Safe Procedures

Use step aids

Use ladders appropriately

Clean uptrip hazards outside

See what is ahead

Use platform ladders where possible

Good Housekeeping

Keep walkways free of triphazards

Keep floor space clear of trip hazards

Other things that can help you stay on your feet…

Ensure that areas are well lit - light fittings are not dirty and in poor condition e.g. tubes missing

Wear appropriate footwear for the task

Carrying loads appropriately can assist in

fall prevention. It is an appropriate manual handling technique

Wear glasses if required and ensure your vision is checked so you can see

clearly

Ensure any medications do not

have bad side effects – eg those that affect

your balance

Complete an Action Plan…….. Download Sample Action Plan

I was walking from our classroom to the library with my class, when I slipped on a banana peel left on the ground.

..please watch your step, and fix or report

hazards