Reducing Fall & Slip Injuries: What Our Claims Tell Us — and How We Improve Safety Now

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Slip and fall incidents continue to drive General Liability claims across healthcare. From wet entryways and uneven surfaces to door mechanics and seasonal hazards, many of the highest-risk conditions are predictable and preventable with the right practices.

This month, we identify the top contributing causes from recent claims and outline mitigation actions you can take to reduce liability exposure and prevent avoidable harm.

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Slip and fall injuries remain one of the most common and costly safety risks across healthcare facilities and organizational campuses nationwide. These incidents frequently result in General Liability (GL) claims, operational disruption, and preventable harm to patients, visitors, staff, and vendors. Despite their frequency, most slip, trip, and fall events are not random occurrences. They stem from identifiable environmental hazards and inconsistent response practices.

For healthcare organizations, fall risk management is a critical component of both patient safety and liability reduction. High-traffic environments, transitional flooring surfaces, exterior walking paths, and weather exposure all contribute to elevated slip and fall risk if not proactively monitored. When hazards go unaddressed, the likelihood of injury and associated claims increases significantly.

Claims data consistently shows that slip and fall incidents are driven by predictable patterns in facility conditions and environmental factors. By analyzing where and why these events occur, organizations can implement targeted fall prevention strategies that improve overall facility safety.

Where and Why Falls Are Happening

A review of recent GL claims reveals recurring patterns in both the hazards present and the locations where fall-related events are most likely to occur. These insights point to predictable, preventable risks—many of which can be addressed through environmental improvements, operational discipline, and reinforced staff awareness.

Top 5 Contributing Causes (How the Fall Occurred)

• Unleveled flooring, door closures, transition strips, elevator interfaces
• Wet surfaces in high traffic or transitional areas
• Improper or inadequate entrance mats/walkway coverings
• Malfunctioning automatic doors or doors closing with excessive force
• Structural defects such as cracks, heaves, or deteriorating concrete

These causes reflect a combination of internal and external environmental conditions: floor maintenance issues, weather exposure, design inconsistencies, and mechanical failures. Many of these hazards are slow-developing and detectable through routine proactive rounding.

Where Falls Are Happening Most Frequently

• Hallways and corridors
• Parking lots
• Common areas
• Sidewalks and building approaches
• Walking paths
• Public restrooms
• Elevators
• Lobbies

These locations have high foot traffic and frequent transitions between flooring types—two characteristics strongly associated with increased fall risk.

Seasonal and Weather-Related Fall Risks

Seasonal weather patterns and climate-related conditions play a significant role in slip and fall incidents, particularly in exterior walking areas, entryways and transitional zones between indoor and outdoor environments.

Moisture, temperature fluctuations and environmental exposure can quickly transform otherwise safe walking surfaces into high-risk hazards if not addressed through proactive facility management.

Rain and Moisture Accumulation

Rainwater tracked into buildings is a leading contributor to slip and fall claims. Without adequate flooring solutions and frequent monitoring, moisture can spread into high-traffic areas and create persistent slick surfaces throughout the day.

Recommended actions:

• Increase entrance mat coverage during rainy periods
• Implement more frequent floor inspections during wet weather
• Ensure cleaning protocols for tracked-in moisture
• Monitor drainage performance near building entrances and sidewalks

Humidity and Algae Growth

Louisiana is known for its warm and humid climate causing condensation buildup on flooring and algae growth on exterior walkways. These effects significantly increase slip hazards. Areas near refrigerated equipment, shaded sidewalks, and poorly ventilated entryways are particularly susceptible to slick surface conditions.

Recommended actions:

• Monitor condensation-prone interior zones such as vestibules and mechanical areas
• Increase pressure washing and surface treatment of exterior walkways
• Apply anti-slip coatings in shaded or moisture-retaining areas
• Inspect walking paths for early signs of algae or mildew formation

Temperature Changes and Surface Deterioration

Fluctuating temperatures can accelerate the deterioration of flooring and transition strips, leading to uneven walking surfaces. These structural changes often develop gradually and may go unnoticed without routine inspections.

Recommended actions:

• Conduct seasonal walking surface assessments
• Repair cracks, uneven pavement, and lifted sidewalks promptly
• Evaluate expansion joints and transition strips for shifting or wear
• Prioritize high-traffic pedestrian routes during maintenance planning

Storm Events and Environmental Debris

Severe weather events can introduce additional hazards such as standing water, debris accumulation, and reduced visibility in parking lots and walkways. These conditions increase both fall risk and liability exposure if not addressed quickly.

Recommended actions:

• Perform post-storm safety inspections of exterior walking areas
• Remove debris, pooling water, and obstructions immediately
• Verify lighting functionality after severe weather
• Reinforce hazard signage and temporary safety controls during cleanup

By aligning inspection frequency and hazard response protocols with seasonal and weather-related risks, your organization can reduce preventable incidents while strengthening your overall environmental safety strategy.

Targeted Mitigation Actions: What You Can Do Now

The following interventions are evidence-based and directly aligned with the hazards identified in claim data. They prioritize early detection, environmental consistency, and operational accountability.

1. Eliminate Wet-Surface Risks

Wet-surface events remain one of the most preventable categories of fall-related claims. Avoiding these incidents depends on both environmental controls and rapid hazard response.

Enhanced Actions

• Implement rapid-response spill protocols with time-stamped documentation. This documentation ensures the organization can show when the hazard formed, how quickly staff responded, and when the area was safe again.
• Standardize wet-floor signage placement zones to ensure visibility from multiple angles and distances.
• Use high-absorbency, non-slip carpet squares or adhesive-backed mats at building entrances, cafeterias, and restroom thresholds.
• Add end-of-shift corridor and entry inspections to ensure overnight cleanliness and dryness.
• Add humidity and condensation monitoring in areas prone to slickness, such as near refrigerated equipment or vestibules exposed to exterior air.

2. Improve Doorway & Threshold Safety

Door misalignment, door-force, and threshold issues continue to rank among the highest-cost fall events. These areas require cross-department coordination between Facilities and EVS.

Enhanced Actions

• Conduct monthly door audits, including sensor responsiveness, leveling, closing speed, and latch smoothness.
• Refresh or standardize high-contrast “Watch Your Step” decals at transition strips and elevation changes.
• Replace shifting or curled mats with modular carpet squares or adhesive-backed mat systems that reduce movement.
• Integrate threshold inspections into both EVS and Facilities rounding tools to ensure shared accountability.
• Evaluate door-force reduction opportunities in high-traffic areas such as main entrances and patient-facing corridors.

3. Strengthen Exterior Walking Surface Safety

A large portion of falls occur on exterior surfaces—areas prone to structural wear, environmental exposure, and poor lighting.

Enhanced Actions

• Prioritize prompt repair of cracks, heaves, and uneven surfaces, especially those locatedalong common pedestrian paths.
• Apply anti-slip coatings or surface texture on sloped walkways, curbs, and painted lines.
• Improve site drainage where water pooling is observed after rainfall or irrigation.
• Enhance lighting in parking lots, walkways, and building approaches, ensuring uniform brightness and minimal shadowing.
• Increase inspections and monitoring during certain seasons or weather conditions when hazards become more likely — such as algae growth in warm/wet months, frost in winter, or moisture accumulation during rain.

4. Reduce Elevator-Related Fall Risks

Elevator misalignment and door timing issues contribute substantially to fall claims and often affect both patients and visitors.

Enhanced Actions

• Increase the frequency of leveling tests and timed door-cycle checks to catch early mechanical changes.
• Post clear, visible “Hold Handrail — Watch the Gap” reminders inside and outside elevator cabs.
• Train EVS and frontline staff to report sudden jolts, misalignment, or stops immediately to Engineering.
• Add preventive maintenance review checkpoints, ensuring contractors are documenting alignment trends over time.

A Safer System Begins With Consistent, Targeted Action

Fall and Slip events continue to represent the largest share of our GL claims—both in frequency and financial impact. The patterns in our data show that these incidents are not random; they are rooted in identifiable and correctable environmental conditions.

By focusing on the highest impact areas—wet floor management, doorway and elevator mechanics, exterior walking surfaces, and structural maintenance—we can significantly reduce preventable harm.

Meaningful improvement will not come from one large initiative, but from widespread adoption of small, reliable, repeatable practices across teams. When EVS, Facilities, Nursing, Security, and front-line staff collectively own these hazards, fall reduction becomes not just a safety strategy but a cultural expectation.

The path forward is clear: consistent monitoring, rapid hazard response, and strategically targeted environmental improvements. When these elements come together, our campuses become safer not by chance, but by design.

The LHA Trust Funds Risk Consultants are ready to assist your organization in reducing slip and fall–related General Liability risks.

We offer comprehensive support, including:

• On-demand training available through our CHER Portal
• General Liability on-site risk assessments to evaluate areas of concern throughout your organization
• Proactive hazard identification and strategic improvement planning tailored to your environment
• On-site training with key departments

Our team partners with you to strengthen safety practices, reduce preventable incidents, and enhance overall risk performance.

Please contact your LHA Trust Funds Risk Consultant for more information or to schedule a consultation.