Slip, Trip, and Fall Injuries On the Job

Slips, trips, and falls can happen at nearly any workplace, and they are particularly common among employees in grocery stores and other retail establishments. Whether you are working at a grocery store like Publix, Winn Dixie, or Whole Foods when a slip, trip, or fall occurs, or you got hurt in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident at a large chain retail store like Target, Walmart, or Costco, you may be eligible to obtain workers’ compensation benefits. While some slip, trip, and fall injuries are relatively minor, these accidents are often a frequent cause of employee missed workdays and debilitating injuries. Our Sunrise workers’ compensation attorneys can provide you with more information.

Learning More About Workplace Slips, Trips, and Falls

Did you know that hundreds of workers die every year as a result of falls, and hundreds of thousands of workers must take time away to recuperate after suffering injuries from same-level falls or falls from heights? According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 805 workers died from fall-related injuries in 2020 and more than 211,000 required time away from work due to their injuries.

What is the difference between a slip and fall and a trip and fall accident? According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls in general “occur whenever you move too far off your center of balance,” and they are the leading cause of workplace deaths. OSHA then defines a slip as “a loss of balance caused by too little friction between your feet and the surface you walk or work on,” and a trip as a situation where “your foot hits an object and you are moving with enough momentum to be thrown off balance.

What Causes Slips and Trips? 

OSHA cites the following as common causes of workplace slips and trips:

• Wet surfaces;
• Spills;
• Weather hazards (such as rain-drenched entryways in South Florida);
• Footwear that makes slipping more likely;
• Going in a hurry without paying attention;
• Objects and other hazards in walkways; and
• Damaged or uneven flooring.

Common Injuries Among Grocery and Retail Workers Who Slip, Trip, and Falls 

When workers slip, trip, and fall, they can sustain a wide range of injuries that can require time away from work and medical care. Common injuries include but are not limited to the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, which include concussions;
• Back injuries;
• Shoulder injuries;
• Sprains;
• Strains;
• Muscle and ligament tears;
• Broken bones;
• Wrist injuries;
• Knee injuries; and
• Ankle injuries.

Most workers’ compensation injuries must be reported to an employer within 30 days from the date of the injury, but ideally as soon as possible. To ensure you meet all the requirements for workers’ compensation coverage, you should get in touch with a lawyer who has experience handling cases like yours.

Contact a Sunrise Workers’ Compensation Attorney 

If you were injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident at a grocery store, a retail store, or another workplace, you should talk with one of the experienced Sunrise workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. as soon as possible to find out about seeking workers’ compensation coverage.

Sources:

cdc.gov/niosh/topics/retail/slips.html

nsc.org/work-safety/safety-topics/slips-trips-and-falls

osha.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/fy16_sh-29672-sh6_SlipsTripsFallsHandoutforSafetyCommitteeMeetings.pdf