Slips, Trips & Falls Video and DVD Excerpt: Whatever we are doing we need to exercise caution at all times. After all it only takes one misstep to cause trouble. And trouble can often take the form of a slip a trip or fall. These types of accidents are dangerous. They often lead to pain, suffering, medical bills, lost productivity and lost wages. We can prevent them by examining the hazards around us at work, and at home. To start the process we should look at what causes slips, trips and falls.
Open up any high school science book and you'll find the 3 forces that effect slips, trips and falls; friction, momentum and gravity. These forces are important because they effect your balance. In safety terms friction is the traction you get from the bottom of your shoes as you walk across a surface. A lack of friction can easily lead to a slip. Momentum on the other hand is simply a combination of size and speed. This means it's easier to lose your balance if you are carrying a lot of weight and moving too quickly. If your feet contact an obstacle in your path momentum can cause you to trip forward. Gravity is the force of attraction between you and the earth.