Slips, trips and falls risk management guide released

Accounting for 32,000 serious injuries workers compensation claims in 2024–25, Safe Work Australia (SWA) has released a new ‘Guide to managing the risks of slips, trips and falls’.

With such accidents able to happen in almost any workplace and with the potential to result in serious injuries and fatalities, the guide seeks to be a practical, easy-to-use resource, providing information across a range of industries and workplaces.

Designed to help workplaces identify slip, trip and fall hazards and implement effective control measures, SWA said of its guide:

“While these incidents are often linked to factors such as uneven surfaces, poor housekeeping or inadequate lighting, the guide also highlights broader factors that can contribute to the risk, including how work is organised and managed.”

Supporting employers to take a proactive approach to identifying hazards, managing risks and creating safer work environments, also included is a downloadable checklist that can be used to identify slip, trip and fall hazards in the workplace.

“Under work health and safety laws, employers have a duty to eliminate risks to health and safety, or minimise them as much as they reasonably can,” SWA said. “Understanding and addressing the factors that contribute to slips, trips and falls is an important part of meeting these obligations and preventing harm at work.”

You can download the guide here and the checklist here, via the SWA website.

Image credit: iStock.com/Marija Bazarova. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.