WA’s Commission for Occupational Safety and Health has released a new online kit to help workplaces prevent slips and trips and meet their responsibilities under workplace safety legislation.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch warned today that almost a quarter (23.5 per cent) of all lost time injuries suffered each year were caused by slips and trips.

“The number of slips and trips that occur each year represents a huge cost to employers, and better prevention strategies would significantly reduce this cost,” Mr McCulloch said.

The kit includes material for a toolbox session, a practical guide to preventing slips and trips and four posters that can be printed from WorkSafe’s website and displayed in workplaces.

The toolbox session material includes facts and statistics on slips and trips, along with suggestions on discussion topics for toolbox groups and a list of possible solutions the group may bring up.

The practical guide provides advice on minimising the risk of slips and trips in a workplace and, in the process, meeting responsibilities under the workplace safety legislation.

It explains how to identify slip and trip hazards and assess them, and suggests control measures that can be put into place.

“Slips and trips are a real concern in workplaces,” Mr McCulloch said.  “Although a trip doesn’t sound like much, very serious injuries can result from a fall, especially if the person also strikes something.

“I encourage everyone to make use of this new resource because slips and trips can happen in any workplace and can have serious consequences.”

Media Contact: Caroline De Vaney, 6251 2363 or 0408 927563 (media enquiries only)
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• Prevent slips and trips- Workplace kit