Some may take it lightly but slip and fall injuries total to over one million cases in the United States each year. Out of this million, around 300,000 end up to be disabling injuries in the workforce and slip and fall accidents are known to kill more workers than the combined total of other on-the-job fatalities.

Slip and fall injuries may include:

• bruises and cuts

• skeletal and muscle fractures

• back injuries

• concussions

• death

Although there are other contributing factors for a slip and fall accident, like changing climate conditions and the work environment itself, slippery work areas, structural defects and the lack of safety procedures are still considered as the top reasons why workers often get into an on-the-job slip and fall accident.

These accidents can easily be prevented by following the safety guidelines known as American National Standard, which was authored by the American Society of Safety Engineers.

ANSI A1264 sets safety requirements for protecting persons in accident prone or dangerous areas in industrial areas or workplaces. This standard includes providing for non-slip floor covering, structural safety provisions, standardized protective equipment and sufficient safety training for workers engaged in high-risk jobs.

Workplace slip and fall accidents has an average cost of $30,000 which includes hospital and medical bills, physical therapy and lost wages while fatalities cost around one million dollars in expenses and grievance compensation.

Most company owners make sure that they appoint supervisors and managers who commit to look after the safety of their work-areas and structures and conduct frequent inspections of all walking and working areas to identify possible hazards or anomalies that may cause a workplace slip and fall accident.

Safety supervisors/inspectors are advised to look for possible work hazards at the following locations:

• floors

• ramps and walkways

• stairs, ladders and scaffolding

• work vehicles

• outdoor surfaces

Workers, on the other hand, should be mandated to wear protective gloves, helmets and other applicable gear to minimize injuries that may happen while they are in or around their work areas.

Promoting workplace awareness is not limited to placing signage and posters in conspicuous areas; it also includes safety meetings between the supervisor and workers, personnel memorandums and frequent follow-ups to make sure the safety policies are followed.

In California, particularly in Los Angeles, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has several programs and provisions that ensure the protection of workers in their workplace. They advocate companies to have a Workplace Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

An online guide is available for both employers and their workers. This manual discusses an employer’s responsibility and legal obligation to maintain a safe and healthful workplace for employees, as per the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973.

There are several Los Angeles Slip and Fall Attorneys who specialize in this type of personal injury and several cases have granted just compensation to deserving workplace slip and fall victims so it is advised to consult one of them if ever one encounters this type of accident.