Complete Analysis of Near Miss Accidents: Trips, Slips, and Falls in an Office Setup

 Analysis of Trips, Slips, and Falls in an Office Setup Using Risk Matrix Decision Tree Analysis, FMEA, and Bow Tie.

1. Risk Matrix Analysis

Severity	Likelihood	Risk Rating	Interpretation
Moderate Injury (e.g. sprain, minor fracture, head bump)	Likely (several times per year)	High (Orange Zone)	Needs immediate intervention
Minor Injury (e.g. bruises, abrasions)	Very Likely (monthly incidents reported or near misses)	High (Orange Zone)	High frequency; requires systematic preventive measures
Major Injury (e.g. head trauma, disability)	Possible (at least once a year)	Critical (Red Zone)	High potential consequence; office must act to mitigate hazards

✔ Key Risks Identified:

• Wet floors, loose cables, uneven floor surfaces.

• Cluttered workspaces.

• Inadequate lighting in corridors and restrooms.

• Use of unstable chairs or ladders to reach high areas.

2. Decision Tree Analysis

Event Trigger: Near Miss Report of Trip, Slip, or Fall

      

Interpretation:

• Systematic investigation and action reduce risks.

• Ignoring or inadequate response increases exposure and liability.

3. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Failure Mode	Effect	Cause	Severity (S)	Occurrence (O)	Detection (D)	RPN (S×O×D)	Action Priority
Wet floor left unattended	Slip, fall	Cleaning not flagged or uncontrolled spill	8	7	5	280	Immediate signage and SOP enforcement
Loose electrical cables	Trip, stumble	Poor cable management	7	6	4	168	Implement cable trays & awareness
Clutter in walkways	Obstruction, trip	Poor housekeeping	6	8	5	240	Reinforce clean desk and walkway policy
Poor lighting	Missed obstacles	Burnt bulbs, design flaw	8	5	6	240	Audit lighting levels and repair schedules

✔ Note:

• RPN above 200 indicates urgent corrective action required.

• Key intervention areas: SOP improvement, housekeeping policy, awareness campaign.

4. Bowtie Model Analysis

Top Event: Near Miss Accident - Trip, Slip, or Fall

Threats (Left side - causes):

• Wet floors

• Loose cables

• Poor lighting

• Cluttered pathways

Preventive Barriers:

• Prompt cleaning & signage

• Cable trays and covers

• Regular maintenance audits

• Housekeeping policy enforcement

Consequences (Right side - outcomes):

• Minor to major injury

• Productivity loss

• Staff demoralization

• Legal claims or penalties

Mitigating Barriers:

• First aid and emergency response

• Incident reporting and investigation system

• Root cause analysis for continuous improvement

• E-learning and toolbox meetings on office safety

✔ Visual Summary:

• Proactive barriers prevent the event.

• Reactive barriers mitigate the impact if the event occurs.

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Summary Insights Using Multiple Tools

Tool	Value Added
Risk Matrix	Provides urgency and prioritization of risks based on frequency and severity.
Decision Tree	Highlights the decision points that escalate or mitigate the risk based on action or inaction.
FMEA	Systematically identifies failure points and prioritizes corrective actions based on RPN.
Bowtie Model	Visually illustrates cause-consequence relationships and identifies preventive and mitigative controls.