Hospitals eTool
Laundry » Slips/Trips/Falls
Hazards
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
- See Hospital-wide Hazards - Slips/Trips/Falls.
- Walking-Working Surfaces. OSHA.
- Inspection Guidance for Inpatient Healthcare Settings. (June 25, 2015). OSHA memorandum establishing guidance for inspections conducted in inpatient healthcare settings.