Case Study : Slips, Trips and Falls

All employee health metrics have improved over the past 5 years except slips, trips, and falls of employees. There is a systemwide collaborative on patient falls, but there is little interest in employee falls. The only time employee health had a decrease in injuries from employee falls was 5 years ago when a small amount of money was budgeted to buy nonskid shoes for the patient support team, which included environmental services, security, dietary, and transportation. The budget for shoes was exhausted after 6 months. Managers were told to put the nonskid shoe requirement into job descriptions and assure that employees were complying.

Questions:

A. What is the next step needed to get this prevention project moving?

B. What information will help get the attention of manager and staff?

C. Identify some internal and external solutions to the risk of slips, trips and falls.