How can you prevent slips, trips, and falls in yard work?

How can you prevent slips, trips, and falls in yard work?

• A. Wear bright colors only
• B. Avoid wearing PPE
• C. Run when moving across yards
• D. Keep walkways clear, wear proper footwear, and maintain three points of contact

Answer: (D)

Preventing slips, trips, and falls in yard work comes down to a safe environment, proper footwear, and steady body contact. Keeping walkways clear removes obstacles like tools, hoses, or uneven patches that you could trip over. Wearing proper footwear with good tread provides the traction you need on wet or uneven surfaces. Maintaining three points of contact while you move or climb gives you a stable base—two points of contact supported by a third—so you’re less likely to lose balance if you encounter a slip. This combined approach directly addresses the main risk factors in yard work: clutter, poor traction, and loss of balance. Wearing bright colors may help you be seen, but it doesn’t prevent slipping. PPE should be used as appropriate for the task, not avoided. Running across yards increases the chance of losing balance and missing hazards.

Preventing slips, trips, and falls in yard work comes down to a safe environment, proper footwear, and steady body contact. Keeping walkways clear removes obstacles like tools, hoses, or uneven patches that you could trip over. Wearing proper footwear with good tread provides the traction you need on wet or uneven surfaces. Maintaining three points of contact while you move or climb gives you a stable base—two points of contact supported by a third—so you’re less likely to lose balance if you encounter a slip. This combined approach directly addresses the main risk factors in yard work: clutter, poor traction, and loss of balance.

Wearing bright colors may help you be seen, but it doesn’t prevent slipping. PPE should be used as appropriate for the task, not avoided. Running across yards increases the chance of losing balance and missing hazards.