Community Living Toronto & CUPE Local 2191
FACT SHEET
Spring 2007
In Canada some sixty thousand workers are injured annually due to fall accidents. This number represents about fifteen percent of the ‘time loss injuries’ that are accepted by WSIB.
Statistics show the majority (60%) of falls happen on the same level resulting from slips and trips. Slips happen where there is too little friction or traction between the footwear and the walking surfaces. Trips happen when your foot collides (strikes/hits) an object causing you to lose the balance and, eventually fall.
Both slips and trips result from some kind of unintended or unexpected change in the contact between the feet and the ground or walking surface. This shows that good housekeeping, quality of walking surfaces (flooring), selection of proper footwear, and appropriate pace of walking are critical for preventing fall accidents.