Book 9, Question 134
Why Wipe Spills Right Away?
We wipe spills right away because they can make people slip and they can grow germs! A wet floor is slippery, and a sticky counter feeds microbes and invites pests. Quick cleanups prevent double trouble, so make wiping a habit.
More fun facts
- Wet kitchen floors, spills and clutter can lead to slips, trips and falls that cause injuries.
- Workplace safety rules in the United States say floors must be kept clean and dry and walkways kept clear.
- In the United States, slips, trips and falls are the third most common kind of work injury that is not deadly.
- Falls on the same level often start with a slip or a trip, and half of them kept workers away from work for more than 10 days.
- Sprains, strains and other leg injuries are the most common injuries after a slip, trip or fall.
- In a study of about 17,000 school cafeteria workers in 226 school districts, giving workers free slip resistant shoes cut slip injury claims by 67 percent.
- Before the shoe program, workers over 55 were more likely to be hurt by slipping than younger workers.
Questions kids ask
What should I do if I spill something?
Wipe it up right away, or tell an adult and warn others, so no one slips on the wet spot.