Laundry » Slips/Trips/Falls

Hazards

Image of laundry area with wet floors
Laundry area with wet floors.

Employee exposure to slips/trips/falls from the wet floors found in the laundry area.

Requirements under OSHA's Walking-Working Surfaces Standard, 29 CFR 1910.22

  • Keep floors clean and dry. [29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2)]
  • Keep aisles and passageways clear and in good repair, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard. [29 CFR 1910.22(a)]

Other OSHA Requirements

Follow Bloodborne Pathogens Standard spill clean-up requirements for spills containing blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) [29 CFR 1910.1030].

Recognized Controls and Work Practices

Implement housekeeping procedures to help reduce incidents.

  • Implement a program to provide safe, immediate clean-up of floor spills.
  • Implement housekeeping procedures such as cleaning only one side of a passageway at a time; providing good lighting for all halls and stairwells.
  • Instruct workers to use handrails on stairs, to avoid undue speed, and to maintain an unobstructed view of the stairs ahead of them--even if that means requesting help to manage a bulky load.
  • Eliminate uneven floor surfaces.

Additional Information