OSHD

Slips & Trips Evaluation Programme (STEP): Helping Employers Prevent Slips, Trips & Falls At Workplaces

Since 2012, Slips, Trips and Falls (STF) have been one of the top contributors for workplace major and minor injuries. To address this, MOM launched the Slips and Trips Evaluation Programme (STEP) which piloted from June to October 2015. The programme provided compliance assistance to 200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) employers to help kick start their STF prevention efforts.

STEP consisted of site visits conducted by WSH professionals to help identify STF hazards, evaluate falling risks, and guide employers to implement effective control measures.

The STEP Auditors

KEY ELEMENTS OF STEPS
Each STEP visit comprised of 3 key elements to help employers gain better understanding of STF prevention:

01_SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT OF SLIP RISKS

The WSH professionals used a slip meter to determine the surface roughness and gathered information on work practices in order to assess the slip risk rating. Recommended control measures were provided to the employers to manage the slip risks.

A slip meter is used to help determine slip risk on floor surfaces

02_IMMEDIATE RECTIFICATION OF STF HAZARDS

The WSH professionals provided on-the-spot hands-on rectification of STF hazards together with the employees. This helped equip companies with knowledge and skills to continue implementing STF control measures to other areas within their premises after the visits.

Taking measurements of floor surface friction

03_DISTRIBUTION OF STF SAFETY KITS

STF Safety Kits were distributed to participating companies to help give them a head start in their STF prevention efforts. The kit contained STF prevention items such anti-slip mats, free-standing floor ‘Caution’ signage, bundling straps and slip resistant tapes.

STF Safety Kits distributed to introduce employers to various STF solutions

POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPATING COMPANIES

Majority of the participating companies told us that STEP has helped them learn more about STF hazards, and found that the recommended STF prevention action plan was useful. They also commented that the STF Safety Kit provided them with a good range of STF solutions that they could adopt.

With the positive feedback received, OSHD will review how STEP can be extended in 2016 to help more companies prevent STFs in their workplaces.