Slip and fall accidents can happen pretty much anywhere. You do not have to be in a dangerous area. In fact, many of these falls happen in homes, so the danger is present everywhere.
National Floor Safety Institute explains keeping on top of statistics concerning slip and falls can help people to be more aware and could lead to fewer accidents.
Who is at risk?
Women have a slightly increased chance of being a victim of a slip and fall than men. People over the age of 65 are more likely to have a slip and fall accident. Many will have repeat fall incidents.
Around one million people go to the emergency room because of slip and falls every year. This type of fall accident accounts for about 12% of all fall incidents.
What about work falls?
Slip and falls are responsible for the majority of missed days of work due to injuries. About 85% of claims for workers’ compensation are due to slippery floor falls. People missed about 31 days of work on average due to this type of accident in 22% of cases.
Is there anything else to know?
Flooring is responsible for about two million slip and falls annually. Slip and falls inside residences account for about half of the deaths occurring when people are at home. The primary serious injury from slip and falls is hip fractures. They cause the most medical costs and lead to the most deaths.
Slip and falls can happen to anyone, so understanding how they happen can help you to take steps to stop them from occurring.