Slip, trip and fall hazards are one of the most common hazards found in the home. There are simple ways that you and your landlord can reduce the likelihood of someone falling and hurting themselves.
Stay safe at home
- Keep the stairs clear
- Don't leave shoes, toys or other things on the floor
- Clean up spills straight away
- Make sure your lights work. Change lightbulbs when needed
- Try not to use extension cords. If you do, plug them n close to where you need them. Don't run them under rugs
- Use rugs that don't slip, especially on wooden or tiled floors
- Use a stairgate if you have young children
- Don't put furniture, like chairs, near windows. Someone might climb and fall
- Tell your landlord if something is broken or unsafe
Stay safe on the stairs
- Steps should all be the same size
- It's best to have handrails on both sides of the stairs. One side is okay if the stairs are narrow
- If there's no wall next to the stairs, there should be a barrier to stop falls
- Handrails should go the full length of the stairs and be easy to hold on to
- Stairs should be well lit
Stay safe between levels
If there's a drop of more than 30com (length of a school ruler), there should be a barrier. This includes:
- Landings or stairwells
- Garden walls or terraces
- Windows or balconies
- Roof terraces
Barriers should be at least 110cm high, hard to climb, and have no big gaps. Windows upstairs which have low sills should have safety catches on them that adults can open in an emergency.
Stay safe in the bath
People can fall getting in or out of the bath.
- Use a bath mat that does not slip
- Put in grab rails or handles if needed
- Make sure the bath doesn’t wobble – the floor under it should be flat and strong
Stay safe on flat floors
Falls can happen if floors are broken, uneven, or slippery. To stay safe:
- Floors should be flat and in good condition
- They shouldn’t be too steep
- There shouldn’t be things sticking up that you can trip on
- Make sure there’s enough light
- Paths and yards should drain water properly
- Don’t have slippery materials like untreated wood decking