Part 1
Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls (or STFs) are everywhere, and they are costly. They account for 25%+ of all workplace injuries and are the #2 cause of work-related deaths globally.
They crop up in offices, warehouses, and sites alike (with wet floors, cluttered walkways, poor lighting, a missed step) and quickly turn routine tasks into recordable injuries. The good news: most are avoidable with consistent attention and a proactive, safety-first culture.
Example cases:
Lone worker slipped
A worker slipped while cutting alone in a Christchurch manhole with ankle-deep water. The saw kicked back, amputating three fingers. Failures included inadequate risk assessment and poor method selection.
Trench collapse
A worker was almost buried alive when an unsupported excavation collapsed. The site had no geotech assessment, no safe system of work, and WorkSafe was not notified for a >1.5 m trench. A mate managed to dig him out by hand. The victim sustained a collapsed lung, fractures to the rib cage, sternum, and collarbone, and now also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident.
Fragile roof fall
In April 2023, a 38-year-old roof cleaner in Wellington fell about six metres from a slippery roof while working alone for a cleaning company. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures. The worker had been in the role for only two months, had no formal training in working at height, and no harness system or supervision was in place.
Mitigation strategies:
Engineer safer surfaces & spaces: High-traction flooring/coatings in wet zones; bevelled transitions/ramps; drainage; non-slip stair treads; ample lighting indoors/outdoors to reveal hazards.
Perform housekeeping & maintenance: “See it, sort it” for spills; winter snow/ice plans (pre-shift clearing/salting); secure cords/mats; fix uneven floors; routine inspections.
Control traffic & layout: Keep walkways clear; mark changes in level; place absorbent mats at entries; design storage to keep items off floors.
Use footwear and PPE as the last line: Mandate slip-resistant shoes; issue ice cleats/traction aids for cold weather; use handrails.
Train and reinforce awareness: Proper onboarding and seasonal refreshers on hazard spotting, safe pace, carrying/visibility, and reporting; signage (“Wet floor”, floor tape) and micro-campaigns (e.g., “Watch Your Step”).
Implement lone-worker controls: Define which tasks cannot be done alone; scheduled check-ins; radios; fall-detection/man-down wearables with GPS; fast escalation if a check-in is missed.
Build culture & accountability: Encourage near-miss reporting; rapid fix SLA for hazards; supervisor walk-downs; measure STF rates and act on trends.
