Online Course · Walking-Working Surfaces
Slips, Trips and Falls Training: Stay on Your Feet at Work
Most falls at work do not involve ladders or roofs — they happen on ordinary floors, stairs and parking lots. This slips trips and falls training teaches everyone to notice and fix the hazards under their own feet.
Why Same-Level Falls Deserve Attention
Slips, trips and falls are among the most common causes of workplace injuries in nearly every industry, from offices and restaurants to warehouses and hospitals. Because they seem minor, the hazards behind them — a puddle near the ice machine, a cord across a walkway, a burned-out bulb in a stairwell — are easy to live with until someone breaks a wrist or hits their head.
OSHA's walking-working surfaces rules in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D require that work areas be kept clean, orderly and, as far as practical, dry, and that surfaces be inspected and hazards corrected or guarded. This course turns those requirements into habits for every employee.
The course is intentionally practical. Instead of lecturing about statistics, it shows the kinds of scenes employees walk past every day and asks what they would do: mop it, block it off, move it, report it. Workers finish with a short personal checklist they can use on their next walk through the building.
Slip, Trip or Fall? Know the Difference
| Event | What happens | Common causes |
|---|---|---|
| Slip | Too little friction between shoe and floor; feet slide out | Water, grease, oil, food, ice, polished floors, loose rugs |
| Trip | The foot strikes an object and the body keeps moving | Cords, hoses, clutter, uneven flooring, raised thresholds, poor lighting |
| Step and fall | The foot lands lower or higher than expected | Curbs, single steps, missing handrails, distraction while walking |
What the Course Covers
The lessons follow a typical workday from parking lot to workstation, pointing out hazards along the way.
Housekeeping and spills
Learners practice the clean-as-you-go mindset: report or clean spills immediately, use warning signs, keep aisles and exits clear, and route cords and hoses away from walkways or cover them.
Footwear and walking technique
Slip-resistant soles make a large difference in kitchens, processing plants and wet areas. The course also explains shorter steps and slower turns on surfaces that may be slick, and keeping hands free to catch yourself.
Stairs, ramps and transitions
Using handrails, not carrying loads that block your view, and watching for changes in floor surface or level at doorways, docks and entrances.
Weather and outdoor areas
Rain tracked through entrances, ice in parking lots and loading areas, and the walk to and from vehicles, including stepping down from trucks and equipment.
Distraction
Looking at a phone while walking, rushing, and carrying oversized loads all reduce awareness of what is underfoot.
Workplaces Where This Course Pays Off
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Food service and hospitality
Wet floors, grease and constant movement.
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Warehousing
Shrink wrap, broken pallets and dock edges.
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Schools and campuses
Entrances on rainy days and crowded stairwells.
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Offices
Cords, open drawers and boxes in walkways.
Making the Training Stick
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Assign to everyone
Same-level falls affect every role, so include office, production, custodial and leadership staff.
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Run a five-minute hazard hunt
After the course, ask each team to find three slip or trip hazards in their area and fix or report them.
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Fix the root causes
Address leaking equipment, poor drainage, missing mats and lighting rather than relying on signs alone.
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Revisit seasonally
Reassign or refresh before winter or a rainy season when outdoor hazards increase.
Slips, Trips and Falls FAQs
Is this course about working at height?
No. It focuses on falls on the same level and down stairs. For elevated work, see ladder safety and personal fall arrest systems.
Are wet floor signs enough?
Signs warn people but do not remove the hazard. The spill still needs to be cleaned and the source fixed.
Who is responsible for housekeeping?
The employer is responsible for keeping surfaces safe, and every employee plays a part by reporting and cleaning hazards they find.