Tech-Driven Approaches To Stopping Slips, Trips And Falls

Some industries face particularly high exposure to slips, trips and falls (STFs), making their prevention a major priority in these sectors. In 2023, STFs accounted for just under 40% of fatal accidents in the US construction industry. Likewise, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that 35% of ‘major injuries’ in the food and beverage sector stem from slips and trips, most often caused by wet or contaminated floors or by obstructions. Given this level of risk, Verdantix expects these sectors to be early adopters of technologies designed to reduce STF incidents.

A key mitigation strategy is using technology to strengthen an organization’s reporting culture. When hazards are reported promptly, they can be addressed before they escalate. Interviewees for the upcoming Verdantix Best Practices report on strengthening safety culture stress that a stronger reporting culture can be created by simplifying reporting for frontline workers. Technologies such as voice‑to‑text tools and LLM‑driven assistants, which streamline reporting workflows, can be a significant help in this respect (see Verdantix AI Applied Radar: AI Applied To Safety Management).

However, a strong, tech-induced reporting culture can only go so far. Humans naturally and inevitably miss hazards, when they are absent from the worksite or due to errors. Another promising approach is therefore deploying AI‑enhanced video analytics for safety management, which can detect unsafe conditions that could lead to a STF. A variety of vendors offer these solutions, as assessed in the Verdantix Smart Innovators report on video analytics for safety. One of the strongest providers in the space is Visionplatform.ai, whose system incorporates vision‑language models (VLMs) to help identify STF hazards from video clips. As a result, the system is less likely to issue false alarms in response to normal operational activities. For example, it would classify a temporary obstruction left unattended outside planned operations as a trip hazard, but would not be concerned by tools or materials temporarily placed in a designated work zone during maintenance.

Nevertheless, practitioners should recognize that the systems outlined in our Smart Innovators report are not infallible. Periodic manual inspections by safety professionals remain essential to ensuring that STF hazards are identified and resolved effectively.

For more detail and insights on using technology to prevent STFs, set up an analyst inquiry call.