​About Slips, Trips and Falls

Learn the importance of protecting yourself from slips and trips. And find out more about related laws, industry standards and key statistics.

Definition: Slips, Trips and Falls

Term

Definition

Slips

Falling on the same level due to loss of balance when there is too little friction between the foot and the floor. For example, when stepping on a wet or oily surface.

Trips

Falling on the same level due to loss of balance when:

  • the foot collides with, strikes or hits an object in its path; or
  • one steps down unexpectedly from a higher to a lower surface (misstep).

Falls

A downward movement, typically rapidly and freely, from a higher to a lower level.

Laws and Industry Standards

As an employer, you are expected to comply with Singapore's WSH laws. You should pay particular attention to:

You should also observe relevant industry standards, such as:

Please refer to the WSH (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification (PDF) for the full list of approved Codes of Practice.

Statistics

  • Slips, trips and falls are one of the top causes of workplace deaths.
  • Slips, trips and falls are the most common causes of workplace injuries. It can cause sprains, strains, fractures, head injuries and deaths.
  • Slips, trips and falls account for more than 25% of all workplace injuries and affected more than 3,000 employees each year between 2014 and 2018.

Refer to Workplace Safety and Health Reports for the latest WSH National Statistics Report.