Healthy,
safe and
productive lives
and enterprises

Contain Spills to Control Slips (Trips and Falls)

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In 2012, floor mats were not relevant in about half the HSA visits where examined. This is probably because these workplaces have wet-working areas and large external working areas.

In 2012, 35% of 1,783 HSA workplace visits found the employer did not have a procedure that floor mats are used to reduce slip risks

  • Use floor mats where appropriate, e.g. at deep fat fryers, at wash-up areas, at small fruit/ vegetable items with high liquid content

Deep Fat Fryer with Mat

  • Where spills are likely, provide stores designed to contain spills, e.g. bunds, drip-trays

Milk containers store

  • Provide drains in areas where spills are a frequent occurrence, e.g. in cleaning stores
  • Hang mops and other wet equipment over buckets, drains so spills do not go onto floor 
  • Particular caution may be required at entrances

Spill risks are an important part of Slip Risk Assessment and Prevention

A risk assessment approach to Spills slips (trips and falls) can include the following steps

  1. Identify Risks
  2. Prevent
  3. Contain
  4. Detect
  5. Cordon
  6. Remove