Slip, Trip, Fall: The #3 Non-Fatal Injury Cause and How We Stop It Fatality File

Slip-and-Fall Injury on Wet Restroom Floor Hospitalizes Worker

On December 6, 2021, at approximately 9:30 p.m., an employee entering a women’s restroom slipped on a recently mopped tile floor and fell hard to the ground. No signage had been noted in the report, and the employee was not wearing the required slip-resistant footwear. The fall resulted in a fractured right ankle, requiring hospitalization. OSHA determined that the wet flooring created a predictable slip hazard and that proper footwear and hazard-control practices were not effectively enforced at the time of the incident.

This case demonstrates how quickly a simple housekeeping lapse can escalate into a serious injury. Wet floors, missing signage, and inadequate footwear policies remain among the most common causes of non-fatal workplace injuries across U.S. industries. Consistent hazard communication, slip-resistant flooring practices, and proper footwear standards are essential to preventing these avoidable incidents.

Source: Osha.gov