Floor Mat Causes Slip and Fall in Supermarket

Case Overview

This occupational analysis, case involves a man who slipped on a floor mat when entering a grocery store located in Mississippi. The floor mat had a rubber edge- about ½ to ¾ of an inch wide all around. The man slipped and fell when he stepped on the mat, landing on the hard surface of the floor. As a result of his fall, the man sustained various injuries to multiple parts of his body.

Questions to the Occupational Health and Safety expert and their responses

Do you have knowledge of supermarket safety and the steps that should be taken to ensure customer safety, specifically with floor mats?

I am a licensed occupational therapist with 30 years of experience. I also have a Masters of Science and Technology in Ergonomics. A significant proportion of my work involves preparing ergonomic technical risk analyses some of which involves falls in the workplace. I use the principles of safety risk management as my framework.

About the expert

This Ergonomics expert and certified occupational Therapy expert uses -˜state of the art' ergonomic approaches, methods and techniques to reduce and eliminate ergonomic risk factors that may otherwise impact the effectiveness, efficiency and safety of work. He is knowledgeable in respect to the culture, processes and structures that are directed at the effective management of risk. He has performed countless workplace risk assessments including occupational fall risks. He is a member of several professional organizations including Association of Canadian Ergonomists, the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia and the Human Factors Community.