Welcome

About this course

Slips, trips, falls, ladders and steps are common safety issues in optical practice. They can affect patients, customers, staff, contractors and visitors in reception areas, retail spaces, consulting rooms, pre-screening areas, stockrooms, toilets, stairways, entrances and during domiciliary visits.

This course is for the whole optical team: optical assistants, reception and admin staff, retail and dispensing staff, clinical staff, managers, locums, temporary staff, cleaners and anyone who works in or supports optical services. It focuses on practical workplace safety rather than clinical falls assessment.

Many hazards are ordinary and familiar: wet entrances, loose mats, boxes from deliveries, frame displays, cables, bags, stools, poor lighting, stairs, rushed cleaning, awkward storage and using a chair instead of proper access equipment. Familiar hazards still require action to prevent harm.

Why this course matters

• Optical practices are public spaces: patients and customers may not know the layout and some will have reduced vision, mobility issues, fatigue, children with them or anxiety about their appointment.
• Small hazards can cause serious harm: a low cable, wet patch or loose mat can lead to injury, distress, cancelled clinics and avoidable staff absence.
• Low-height access is still work at height: standing on chairs, boxes, counters or unstable stools is an unsafe shortcut.
• Everyone can help: staff often spot hazards before managers do.
• Reporting prevents repeat incidents: recording near misses and recurring problems shows where the system needs a fix.

A simple learner spine

• See it: notice wet floors, clutter, poor lighting, uneven surfaces, blocked routes and unsafe access.
• Sort it: remove simple hazards if you can do so safely.
• Stop if unsafe: do not improvise with chairs, boxes or unstable steps.
• Report it: tell the right person and record hazards, near misses or incidents clearly.
• Learn from it: repeated problems need a practical control, not just another reminder.

By the end of the course you should be better able to spot common hazards, control what you can safely control, use steps and ladders only when appropriate, respond sensibly after a fall and report issues in a way that helps the practice improve.