Free toolbox talk · 29 CFR 1910.21-30
Slips Trips and Falls Toolbox Talk for Clear Walkways
A slips, trips, and falls toolbox talk helps employees notice floor conditions and route obstructions before someone loses their footing. The template covers spills, wet surfaces, loose mats, cables, poor lighting, footwear, stairs, and reporting. Food service leads and other supervisors can use it to assign practical housekeeping actions in busy work areas.
The full slips, trips, and falls toolbox talk
Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention. Blanks in [brackets] are for your own details.
The printable copy downloads as a web page file: open it in your browser, then print it or save it as a PDF.
Why this talk matters
Covers common causes of slips, trips, and falls, housekeeping standards, and prevention strategies.
Talking points
- Slips, trips, and falls cause 15% of all accidental deaths and are the #2 cause of workplace fatalities after motor vehicles
- Common slip causes: wet/oily floors, loose mats, spills, recently mopped surfaces without warning signs
- Common trip causes: clutter, cables across walkways, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, open drawers
- Clean spills immediately — if you can't clean it right away, put up a wet floor sign and guard the area
- Keep walkways and work areas clear — the "3-foot rule": nothing within 3 feet of walking paths
- Wear appropriate footwear — slip-resistant soles rated for your work surface
- Use handrails on stairs — don't carry items that block your view of the steps
- Report damaged flooring, missing handrails, or poor lighting immediately
Key takeaways
- Clean up spills immediately — or mark and guard the area
- Keep all walkways clear of clutter, cords, and obstacles
- Wear slip-resistant footwear appropriate for your work environment
The printable copy adds an attendance record (name, signature, date) and a presenter signature line.
A starting point, not legal advice. Have a qualified person check it against your site, your state's rules and the standard before you rely on it.
Slips, trips, and falls toolbox talk: when to give it
Run this discussion when repeated spills, clutter, deliveries, or weather create problems on walking routes. General industry requirements at 29 CFR 1910.22 address clean, orderly walking-working surfaces, inspection, and correction of hazardous conditions. Federal OSHA does not require a toolbox talk as the record of those duties. Use the conversation to identify who responds, how the area is protected until repairs or cleanup are complete, and which hazards need action beyond routine housekeeping.
How to use this slips, trips, and falls toolbox talk
- Walk a busy employee route and ask the crew to identify slippery surfaces, damaged flooring, and obstructed sightlines.
- Agree who cleans spills and demonstrate how to restrict access when immediate cleanup cannot be completed safely.
- Check mats, footwear suitability, lighting, and stair access against the conditions workers actually encounter during service.
- Assign owners for repairs and housekeeping changes, then keep the discussion date, presenter, and employee signatures together.
Before you give this slips, trips, and falls toolbox talk: what to fill in and check
- Recurring spill locations, floor materials, drainage problems, and cleaning product instructions.
- Repair contacts, spill response responsibilities, and barriers available on each shift.
- Footwear policies, stair handrails, delivery routes, and lighting during opening or closing.
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- Printable copy with an attendance sign-in sheet
- Blanks marked for your company details
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Slips, trips, and falls toolbox talk questions
Is a wet floor sign enough when a walkway is slippery?
A sign alerts people, but it does not remove the hazard or necessarily keep them out of it. Under 29 CFR 1910.22(d), hazardous conditions must be corrected before employees use the surface again; when immediate correction is not possible, guard against use until corrected. Choose barriers and a safe alternate route appropriate to the location.
Does OSHA require a three-foot clear zone beside every walking path?
There is no universal three-foot clearance rule for every walking path under 29 CFR 1910.22. The template’s housekeeping reminder should not be treated as a legal dimension for all routes. Determine the clearance needed for the actual passage, equipment, and any applicable egress or access requirement, then keep that usable route unobstructed.
Do slip-resistant shoes prevent all slips in a kitchen?
No shoe eliminates the effects of grease, pooled water, damaged floors, or poorly maintained mats. Select footwear suited to the surface and contamination, then maintain housekeeping and prompt spill response. Ask employees whether soles are worn or clogged. Use their observations to improve floor controls instead of placing the entire prevention burden on footwear.