Recognising floor and trip hazards

Many slip and trip hazards in care homes are ordinary items placed in walking routes. A corridor can become unsafe after a delivery, during laundry collection, after personal care, while cleaning, when equipment is charging, or when staff move quickly between tasks.

Common hazards to notice

• Wet or contaminated floors: water, urine, cleaning residue, food, drink, body fluids, mud, leaves, ice, grease or talcum powder.
• Temporary obstructions: laundry bags, waste sacks, delivery boxes, hoists, wheelchairs, pressure cushions, activity equipment, cleaning trolleys or medicines trolleys.
• Trailing items: charger leads, extension cables, vacuum cables, call-bell cables, oxygen tubing and wires from temporary equipment.
• Floor defects: loose mats, curled carpet edges, damaged flooring, uneven thresholds, unmarked changes in level or loose outdoor paving.
• Reduced visibility: poor lighting, glare, shadows, dark furniture against dark floors, or poor contrast around steps and doorways.

Trip hazards often blend into routine. A laundry bag by a bedroom door may seem normal because it is part of the job. A temporary cable across a corridor can be ignored because it is only expected to be there briefly. Small uneven edges are often stepped over without thought. These hazards become dangerous when someone is tired, distracted, frail, hurrying, using a walking aid or carrying items.

If a route is used for walking, it should not become casual storage. Temporary hazards still count as hazards.