How to avoid slips, trips and falls

By Sonya Rivest

We are into the autumn and winter seasons, when slip, trip, and fall related incidents and injuries increase, so it’s a great time to offer you some tips to stay safe.

Think about this. Slips, trips and falls account for over 60 percent of injuries across Canada, injuries which are often debilitating - and no one needs a life-altering incident.

The safety culture at our natural gas operations in Ontario, Quebec, and across the United States, is strong. Bottom line, we want people to get home safely at the end of each day.

With that in mind, I’ll get right into it.

Be aware of slippery surfaces

Watch for areas that have low sunlight and may still be wet from the frost in the early part of the day. Please ensure to use caution during these upcoming months.

?There are some things you can do to reduce your risk of slipping, tripping or falling:

·??????? Move slowly. Dashing across ice is just asking to fall. Instead, walk slowly so your body has time to adjust to the slick surface.

·??????? Detour. Use an alternate path of travel whenever possible to avoid ice or wet surfaces.

·??????? Additional hazards – realize that going off the designated path onto lawns or rocks add additional slip hazards and may not be the best choice for travel.

·??????? Walk with small steps. If your feet are too far apart, you'll have trouble keeping your balance. Take a small step so your foot is only a couple of inches ahead of the other. Then, repeat with the other foot. It'll take longer, but you'll be much safer.

There’s nothing wrong with shuffling forward when walking. Keep your feet about a foot apart. Then, slowly shuffle one foot at a time as you walk. This boosts your centre of gravity, so you can stay steady even when the surface isn’t.

And don’t forget to stand up straight. Good posture makes a ton of difference when walking on ice. Straighten your back so it's lined up with your legs. This helps control your balance.

Watch what you carry

We all want to carry as much as we can at times, but don’t overload. The more you carry, the more difficult it is to keep your balance.

Wear shoes with traction. When walking over ice, the right shoe can make all the difference. Shoes with traction give you a firmer grip, so you're less likely to slide. Think sneakers or boots with rubber soles, or cleats that have built-in spikes.

Don’t wear leather boots or shoes with leather soles. They have weaker traction. Cleats can be attached to shoes to help give you the extra grip you need.

Check your footwear. High-heeled shoes for women and slick leather soles for men are major culprits in falls. Make sure you are wearing good quality, supportive footwear with a non-slip tread.

No matter how proactive with safety we are, it is possible that a person will still experience a slip and fall incident. When a slip does occur, learn to fall safely. When you do tumble, relax. You may be able to lessen your injuries by letting the fleshy parts of your body absorb the impact. When you hit the ground, roll with the direction of the fall.

To avoid wrist, shoulder, and hand injuries, try not to land on your outstretched arms. Most importantly, protect your head.

I hope these tips help avoid a slip, trip or fall. Please stay safe out there.

Sonya Rivest is a Safety Advisor at Enbridge Gas.