An educational library of workplace documents — purpose, who completes them, when they are used, typical fields, common mistakes and how they connect. Linked to workplace safety, workplace training, occupations, industries and employment documents. Informational only — template examples, not legal advice or official documents; employers remain responsible and using a document does not guarantee compliance.
What a slip, trip and fall report is
A slip, trip and fall report is a focused incident record for one of the most frequent causes of workplace injury. Because the contributing factors — a wet floor, poor lighting, a trailing cable, an uneven surface — are specific and recurring, a tailored form captures them better than a generic one.
This is an educational overview with a simplified example. It is not an official template, and completing it does not by itself remove the hazard or guarantee compliance — the conditions must be assessed and controlled.
Purpose
- Record the specific conditions behind a slip, trip or fall.
- Capture the surface, footwear, lighting and housekeeping factors.
- Identify recurring causes across multiple events.
- Feed targeted improvements to walkways and flooring.
Who completes it
- The injured person’s supervisor or a manager, with their account.
- First-aiders and witnesses may contribute.
- Facilities may add detail on the surface and conditions.
- The employer decides the process and who is responsible.
When it is used
- As soon as practicable after a slip, trip or fall on the level.
- For falls from height, a more specific process may also apply.
- When the surface or conditions clearly contributed.
- When near-falls reveal a recurring hazard.
Typical fields
- Date, time, exact location and the surface involved.
- Conditions — wet, contaminated, uneven, poorly lit, obstructed.
- Footwear and any contributing activity.
- Injury, immediate action and first aid given.
- Contributing factors and follow-up.
- Example fields only — adapt to your process and the applicable law.
Common mistakes
- Writing “lost balance” without recording why.
- Ignoring near-falls that reveal the same hazard.
- Missing the housekeeping or maintenance cause behind it.
- Failing to look for patterns by location or condition.
Document workflow
A slip, trip and fall report follows the general accident report process and feeds an incident investigation where warranted. The specific conditions it captures drive a corrective action form and a review of the relevant risk assessment for walkways, flooring and housekeeping.
See the related documents below for what is commonly used with and completed after a slip, trip and fall report.
Retention (high level)
These records are usually kept with the accident records for a period set by the applicable law and the employer’s data-protection duties. This page does not state a period — confirm with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
Slip, trip and fall reports are commonly completed and stored as PDFs, often with a photo of the location, within the accident file. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not remove the hazard or guarantee compliance.
Employer checklist
- Record the specific surface and conditions, not just “fell”.
- Treat near-falls as warnings of the same hazard.
- Address housekeeping, flooring, lighting and maintenance causes.
- Look for patterns by location to target improvements.
Worker notes
- Report slips, trips and falls, including near-falls.
- Describe the surface and conditions accurately.
- Flag recurring problem areas before someone is hurt.
Country considerations
Expectations around managing slip and trip risks vary by country, and the official authority differs. This page is general and high-level — not a statement of any country’s law and not legal advice.
Confirm requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for assessing and controlling slip, trip and fall risks, recording incidents and compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not remove any hazard and does not transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
Free, printable HR & employment resources
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