If your work duties include snow removal, you know that icy conditions can lead to slip-and-fall injuries.

You do your best to keep the sidewalks and parking lots free of ice and snow. You care about preventing injuries for everyone who visits your building.

It’s just as important to be mindful about preventing injuries that can happen during snow removal.

Follow these four tips to reduce the risk of injuries while shoveling snow, so you can get back inside safely.

Four tips for safe snow removal

1. Start by being physically ready

Before getting ready to shovel snow, our bodies need to be ready to handle the job safely to avoid injury or significant discomfort. The risks that go along with shoveling include “a potential for exhaustion, dehydration, back injuries, or heart attacks,” according to OSHA .

Before and during shoveling, remember to:

• Drink plenty of water for hydration
• Warm up: Stretch your arms, shoulders, back and legs
• Understand your physical limitations and do not push beyond them

If you have any underlying health conditions that might make shoveling risky for you, strongly consider asking for help or seek other alternatives.

2. Prevent slips and falls due to ice

Check for icy spots first and take care of them immediately. Be aware that other icy spots may be hidden by snow.

Wear boots and/or traction footwear to significantly reduce the chances of slips and falls. Vendors like Due North offer traction footwear products.

3. Use proper shoveling techniques

Good technique will reduce the chance for injury when shoveling, especially to your back and shoulders. It’s also a way to reduce the chance of slipping and falling.

Be sure to:

• Push the shovel with your strong leg muscles, not your arms and shoulders.
• Try to push the snow instead of lifting it.
• If you must lift the snow, lift the shovel just like you lift anything else – keep your knees bent, feet wide and head up. Work to maintain the neutral curve in your lower back.
• Keep one foot ahead of the other. This will give you more power and produce far less strain on your lower back.
• Keep your arms as close to your body as pos­sible for power, stability and to reduce strain.
• Avoid twisting your upper body. Keep your feet in alignment with your torso.

4. Take it slow in the snow

Work at a safe pace to help avoid injury. Working too fast may cause you to slip and fall more often or tire quickly. And when you’re tired, you may forget to use proper techniques, which could cause discomfort or pain.

Take short breaks when shoveling and don’t over-exert yourself or allow yourself to overheat.

Combined, following these four tips for safer snow shoveling can reduce the risk of slips, falls and other injuries this winter.

More winter safety resources

For more helpful winter safety tips, see SFM’s other resources:

• Winter slips and falls resources page
• Snow removal safety tips 5-minute Solutions
• Snow blower safety tips 5-minute Solutions

A quarter of winter slip-and-fall injuries reported to SFM occur in parking lots. These injuries are often severe and affect all kinds of businesses.

Encourage your employees to use the “Step down, not out” method to avoid falls while getting out of their vehicles and stepping off curbs. Step down with both feet when getting out of a vehicle and step flat footed from a curb to reduce your chance of slipping.

Watch the video for a demonstration of this simple but effective method for avoiding winter falls.

How to step down, not out of a vehicle

1. Swing both legs out to the side.
2. Place both feet, flat footed, on the ground.
3. Grab onto the door frame or steering wheel to help support yourself to a standing position.
4. Use at least three points of contact—two feet and one hand—a practice used by professional drivers.

Walking safely off a curb

1. Shorten your steps. Do not step too far out.
2. Step flat footed off the curb. This minimizes your forward momentum. It also helps ensure your leading foot doesn’t land heel-first and result in a slip.

Download this penguin poster to spread the word at your workplace.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, cleaning and disinfecting have become a larger part of many employees’ days.

As a result, many employees have a higher exposure to chemicals on the job than they did in the past.

Some who rarely or never used chemicals as a part of their daily work before, like teachers for example, may find themselves using them multiple times a day. And those who have used chemicals in the past, like janitorial staff, may now be using new, stronger chemicals with different safety considerations.

Use these chemical safety tips to keep these employees safe by providing them with training and personal protective equipment tailored to the specific chemicals that they’re using.

Chemical safety basics

Conversations on chemical safety often start by discussing common ways chemicals can get into the body, such as ingestion, absorption (skin or eye contact), inhalation (breathing in) and injection.

This explains why proper personal protective equipment, like gloves and masks, is so important. They offer protection from chemicals that can cause skin and lung irritation.

For example, employees who are spraying powerful disinfectants may need to wear masks so they don’t inhale the chemicals, and cover their skin to prevent irritation.

Every chemical is different, and even chemicals that are used for the same purpose can pose different safety hazards. You can find information on the hazards posed by any particular chemical by reviewing its chemical Safety Data Sheet (SDS), which is provided by the manufacturer.

Knowing the pH level of a chemical, and its impact on safety can also help. Weak acids and bases/caustics can dry out and irritate skin, whereas strong acids and bases/caustics can cause severe, corrosive chemical burns.

Knowing how to read the hazard communication pictograms on the labels, and training your staff on this is also important.

Training your employees

Training employees to safely use any chemicals they may be exposed to in the course of work is not only the right thing to do, it’s required.

All states require chemical safety training before use, and some states have additional requirements beyond that. Check the Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines in your state.

When you train your employees in chemical safety, be sure to cover the following points:

• Which chemicals are used in their work areas
• The primary routes by which chemicals can enter the body: inhalation, ingestion, absorption and injection
• How to understand the labels on chemical containers, including the nine internationally recognized pictograms
• Where to find chemical Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) in the workplace, and how to understand them (including a review of the information contained on the SDSs of any chemicals they will be working with)
• Location of emergency eyewashes, first aid kits, etc.
• How to properly store hazardous chemicals
• Required personal protective equipment and how to properly use and wear it
• How to dispose of chemical waste properly
• Don’t eat, drink or smoke while using chemicals, as these put you at risk of ingestion injuries
• Don’t mix chemicals if you’re unsure how they will react
• Clean up spills promptly

For more information on chemical safety see our Employee Right-to-know and Chemical Safety – Understanding Chemical pH 5-Minute Solutions safety talks, available on sfmic.com.

Workspaces have transformed this year as the world has adapted quickly to the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amid the frenzied transition for many people to work from home, some important aspects of a healthy workplace may have taken a backseat, such as mental health considerations, communication practices, ergonomic adjustments and general safety preparations.

Now is a good time to make changes that can help any employee stay safe and engaged while working from home.

Support employees’ mental health

Mental health support should be high on the list of resources to provide an employee working from home.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that working from home presents many emotional and mental health challenges including, but not limited to, social isolation, stress, depression and anxiety. They can cause decreased engagement in work, reduced communication with coworkers, and lower productivity.

According to the CDC, addressing mental health issues in the workplace can help employers reduce health care costs for their businesses and employees.

A Deloitte study says employers get a return of five times their investment into mental health resources and support for employees, and that translates into less workforce turnover, absenteeism and presenteeism.

These ideas may help reduce workplace mental health issues:

• Share mental health self-assessment tools with employees, or offer free or subsidized lifestyle coaching, counseling, or self-management programs.
• Offer good health insurance that has no or low out-of-pocket costs for mental health-related medications and counseling.
• Train managers to identify signs and symptoms of stress and depression in team members and inform them about the available resources for support.
• Encourage employees to set boundaries, such as keeping work to a single room in their home, taking breaks away from that space, and setting work hours to establish a clear beginning and end to the workday.
• Share ideas for productivity, such as setting a daily routine that is similar to that of going into a physical office. Adding structure, setting deadlines, and creating a hierarchy of work tasks to complete daily can motivate some employees, which in turn may reduce stress levels.
• Manage expectations by understanding the unique challenges of your employees who are working from home.

Talking to your employees about their needs can help you address them individually.

“It’s important to create dialog with an employee about their needs, ask them questions and then take measures to support them,” said Jody Rogers, SFM Senior VP & Chief Human Resources Officer. Rogers said that simply being aware of and demonstrating a foundation for employees’ needs creates a better culture and work atmosphere, no matter the location of the employee.

Evaluate the ergonomics of your employees’ workspace

Creating an ergonomically sound work set-up can help employees avoid aches and pains.

“It’s worth taking a little time to set up your space in a way that allows you to be safe working from home and have a comfortable work set-up,” said Stacie Goodrich, President and COO, CompRehab, an SFM subsidiary.

Achieve neutral posture

An individual’s feet should comfortably meet the floor or a footrest so their thighs are fully supported by the chair seat. Their hips should sit at an angle between 90-110 degrees, with their knees slightly lower than their hips.

The chair backrest should support the back and ideally the natural curve of the spine. Upper arms should rest comfortably at their sides with elbows at a 90-110 degree angle and wrists straight or flat on the keyboard and mouse.

The individual’s head should be centered over their neck and shoulders.

If an employee does not have these ergonomics in place at their workstation, you can offer up some tips to help them get there.

• Raise their chair height with pillows
• Add a foot rest for lower body support
• Add a rolled up towel for lumbar support
• Use an ironing board supported by the wall for a stand-up desk

Avoid eye strain

Encourage employees to take a break from their screens and look away every 20 minutes. They should be aware of lighting and position their work area near natural light, if possible. Ask them to adjust their screen accordingly to maintain neutral alignment of their neck and to reduce eye strain.

Reduce neck aches

If an employee uses a phone often when working from home, have them set up a headset or use the speakerphone option to prevent neck strain. They should avoid cradling a phone receiver between their shoulder and head.

Get up and move

Goodrich said the most important ergonomic change someone can make is to increase movement and change posture and position throughout the workday.

Encourage employees to take frequent breaks to change up their posture, stretch and take short walks outside or around their house.

Some easy ways to remember to incorporate movement are:

• Standing up while on the phone
• Posting a guide of stretches close by as a reminder
• Drinking more water and refilling frequently

Assess your employees’ home workspace for safety hazards

In an office setting, communal and desk area safety checks are usually part of the day-to-day business. However, when an employee is working from home, the task of maintaining safety falls to the employer and the employee working remotely.

Telework, the Federal Government’s alternate worksite resource website, provides a safety checklist . Here are a few important takeaways:

• Ensure all electrical cords, plugs, outlets and panels are in good condition, there is no exposed or damaged wiring, and no extension cords or power strips are daisy chained.
• Turn off all equipment when not in use.
• Free your area from clutter and make sure all paper and other flammables are away from heat sources and electrical outlets.
• Make sure carpets are well secured to the floor and move cords and other trip hazards.
• Check that walkways and doorways are unobstructed.
• Ensure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and a multi-use fire extinguisher.

Working from home presents both mental health and safety risks. By promoting awareness around the risks and challenges of maintaining a home office and schedule, you can help minimize the negative effects for your employees.

Skip, SFM’s safety hero, is on a crusade to prevent slips, trips and falls — including falls from ladders.

Falls from heights continue to be a top cause of workplace injuries. More than a third of workplace fatalities in the U.S. in 2018 were due to a fall from elevation, OSHA reports.

According to the American Ladder Institute (ALI), the five most common causes of ladder accidents include:

• Missing the last step when climbing down
• Overreaching
• The ladder was not the right size for the job
• The individual stood on the top rung/ladder cap
• The ladder was not in good working condition

Practice safe ladder use

You can prevent many falls from heights by following a few simple rules.

• Use the right ladder for the job. Don’t use a step ladder as a straight ladder.
• Make sure the ladder is in good condition – see our tips on proper ladder inspection.
• Ensure the load rating is adequate for the job and make sure to include the weight of the worker, materials and tools in your estimation.
• Keep it placed on a firm surface. Use plywood or other similar materials if the ground is too soft.
• Keep the base of the ladder 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet of height.
• Don’t overreach. Maintain your balance when working on a ladder and rather than reaching, climb down and move the ladder to a better position.
• Maintain three points of contact on the ladder.
• Never climb a ladder with your hands full. Instead use proper carrying devices.
• Face the ladder when climbing or descending.

Ladder safety resources

Proper ladder use can be made easier by accessing the ladder safety app from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health . The app includes an angle measuring tool, inspection checklist and rules for proper use.

OSHA also has ladder safety tips to stop falls .

SFM offers hundreds of safety training resources to help prevent workplace injuries. Download these ladder safety resources to remind your employees not to risk a fall.

• Ladder safety Supervisor Initiated Training (SIT)
• Ladder inspections, maintenance and care 5-Minute Solution (English)
• Ladder safety 5-Minute Solution
• Ladder safety poster

In the workplace, back injuries are one of the most common injuries and one of the most debilitating. But they can also be easily avoided using safe lifting techniques such as proper methods of body mechanics and material handling.

Knowing the right technique for safe lifting is essential for preventing injuries. Remember to lift from a position of power by following these four steps:

• Keep your head up

Keep your eyes and chin up. Face forward and keep your eyes parallel to the floor. Using this position helps maintain a neutral curve in your back while lifting.

• Keep the load close

The closer the load is to your body, the better. Holding the load away from your body can increase the chance for strains and sprains to the shoulders, arms and back.

• Use a staggered stance

While lifting, place feet shoulder width apart with one foot slightly back and turned outward to improve your balance. This will provide improved foot placement for quick reactions, a more stable lift, and decrease the risk of a back strain.

• Nose follows toes

Avoid twisting by keeping your feet and head aligned. Use your feet to change direction, making sure to keep your entire body in line as you do so.

Safe lifting techniques

If you can, find ways to avoid manual, physical lifting. When available, use mechanical lifts such as lifting tables, powered pallet jacks, forklifts and overhead lifting systems. Look for opportunities to integrate conveyor systems. Alternatively, try pushing or rolling instead of lifting, if possible.

When lifting is necessary, take measures to make the lift as easy as possible. Don’t store materials on the floor or where you’ll have to reach high to lift them. Instead, store them at heights between the knees and shoulders, especially if they are heavy. Find ways to reduce the carrying distance and decrease the duration of the lift.

Other lifting recommendations include:

• Get your body warmed up and stretch prior to the lift.
• When lifting, keep your back straight and use the knees and legs to take most of the load. Don’t bend at the waist.
• Know how much the item weighs prior to lifting to avoid an unexpected strain.
• Plan your route and make sure the path is clear.
• Ask another employee for help when lifting heavy loads. The NIOSH limit for lifting is 35 pounds per person under ideal circumstances before team lifting or mechanical lifting devices are recommended.
• Communicate with the people around you. Let them know where you are and where you’re going in order to avoid accidents.

Safe patient handling

Within a health care setting, there are a few more things to keep in mind when lifting patients or residents.

Always use mechanical assist devices whenever indicated by the care plan. Devices should be readily accessible and kept in good condition. Examples include sit-to-stand lifts, friction reducers and slide boards, walkers and shower chairs, trapeze bars and safety rails. If you don’t know how to use this equipment ask your supervisors for instruction and assistance.

When feasible, ask the patient to help you as much as possible and communicate with them about what you are going to do. If you need assistance, get help from a coworker.

Using these safe lifting techniques will not only help you avoid painful back injuries, but it’s also more comfortable and less invasive for your patients.

Lifting resources

• “Plan your lift” handout
• A supervisor’s role in preventing back injuries
• Safe patient handling 5-Minute Solution

See the full list of SFM’s lifting resources.

Ever notice how working on your laptop from the comfort of your own couch often leads to discomfort in your neck?

Mobile devices like laptops, tablets and cell phones allow you to work anytime, anywhere. But this can make it harder for you to be sure you’re doing it safely.

These devices all pose ergonomic challenges, but there are ways to minimize the risk.

The ergonomic problems with laptops

The ergonomic challenge laptops present is simple. Because the keyboard and monitor are attached, either the keyboard is too high to properly position your wrists and arms, or the monitor is too low to look straight ahead as you work. So, if you use your laptop computer in your lap, as the name suggests, neck pain will likely follow.

How to use a laptop on a desk at home

If you’re working on your laptop at a desk in your home office, you can use either a docking station, or an external keyboard and mouse with a riser to work comfortably. A docking station connects your closed laptop to an external keyboard, mouse and monitor. Risers lift the laptop monitor up to eye level, and the external keyboard can be positioned so your arms and wrists are in a neutral position. A riser can simply be a few books to set the laptop on, or any other means of raising the level of the monitor.  It is best to have the remote keyboard and mouse at the same level, to ensure proper posture with both wrists.

What to look for to achieve a neutral position:

• Eyes looking straight ahead at the monitor, not up or down
• Upper arms resting comfortably at your sides
• Elbows bent at a 90- to 100-degree angle
• Wrists are straight and flat when using your keyboard and mouse, not flexed, or deviated sideways, up or down.

If multiple people are using the same workspace, you may need to get an adjustable riser.

How to comfortably use a laptop on the go

Unless you carry a riser and external keyboard around with you, it’s not likely that you’ll be able to create an ergonomic setup at a coffee shop, library or inside your car. Minimize the amount of time you spend working on your laptop in these environments. If you need to move around while entering information into your laptop for some reason, such as doing inventory, use a cradle that goes over the shoulders.

It is important also to reduce any glare that may be coming from nearby windows or if working outdoors in the sun.  This glare can make it difficult to view the screen and, over time, could result in headaches.

Choosing an ergonomic laptop bag

When you’re choosing a laptop bag, remember, two straps are better than one — making a backpack a good choice — and carrying the bag over your shoulder is better than carrying it in your hands. People tend to carry things in their hands at the end of their fingertips, which pulls on their tendons.

Make sure not to overextend your reach when moving the bag in and out of your car.

Avoiding ‘tablet neck’

Reading on a tablet computer isn’t ergonomically worse than reading a book. Anytime you’re holding your head forward for a prolonged period of time, it’s going to cause neck discomfort. So what’s the issue with tablets?

“It’s not apples to apples because these machines can keep you a lot more captivated than a book can,” said SFM Loss Prevention Representative Jason Clausen. “You’re on it all the time.”

And while tablet computers weren’t really built for doing a lot of data entry, they’re being used more and more for productivity.

If you find yourself using your tablet more like a laptop, use an external keyboard and follow the guidelines above to properly set up your workstation. Also, consider using dictation software to minimize typing on the device.

In other cases when you’re using a tablet for an extended period of time, take short breaks to stand up and stretch your neck and arms. For more on stretching, see our page on preventing strains and sprains.

Tips for any mobile device

In today’s society, it’s not realistic to think you will never work with your computer on your lap or your head bent over your tablet, but it’s important to limit the amount of time spent working in these less-than-ideal positions and take regular micro breaks while doing it.

“If you give yourself short, periodic recovery periods, you can really reduce the chance for musculoskeletal disorders,” Clausen said. “Ergonomic risk factors are largely a function of repetition, force and duration.”

More resources:

• Office ergonomics 5-minute Solutions
• Ergonomics—Working in a static position 5-minute Solutions
• Ergonomic workstation education handout

By Stacie Goodrich, M.A., OTR/L, CDMS, QRC

Whether you work from home occasionally or exclusively, it’s worth taking a little time to set up your space in a way that allows you to be safe working from home and have a comfortable work set-up.

Follow these guidelines to avoid pain and strain while working from home.

Set up desk space to support neutral posture

Do your best to find a chair that supports your back, and positions you with at least a 90-degree angle at your hips. If available, use a table or desk surface that allows you to maintain a 90-degree angle at your elbows. Refer to our Ergonomic Workstation Education handout for the ideal positioning.

Ergonomic recommendations for laptops

The ergonomic challenge with laptops is that because the screen and keyboard are attached, using a laptop for a long time requires you to make a tradeoff between using a neutral head/neck posture and hand/wrist posture. Using a separate keyboard, mouse and monitor can help combat this.

Follow these recommendations when using a laptop to avoid pain and strain:

• Find a comfortable chair that supports your back
• Monitor your hand/wrist posture and height (see the Ergonomic Workstation Education handout for proper positioning)
• Angle the laptop screen allowing for optimal viewing with your neck in as neutral alignment as possible
• Use a separate keyboard, mouse and monitor, if available
• Plan for frequent positional changes and postural breaks to allow for muscle recovery

Avoid neck strain when using your phone

If you use your phone often when working from home, use a headset or the speaker phone option to prevent neck strain. Avoid cradling a handset or mobile phone between your shoulder and head.

Take breaks often to move and stretch

Take frequent breaks to change up your posture and stretch throughout the workday. This is key to working comfortably for long periods of time.

Check out the videos on our Get Up & Move page to learn simple stretches that you can do during quick breaks throughout the workday.

Incorporate exercise throughout your workday by taking a few 10-minute walks. Remember that exercise is cumulative, so three 10-minute walks are just as beneficial as one 30-minute walk.

Check your home office environment for hazards

When working in an office, you likely have others examining the space for safety hazards, but when working from home, that is most likely up to you.

Check your surrounding environment for safety hazards:

• Ensure the area surrounding your home workspace is free from clutter and tripping hazards
• Evaluate your workspace for adequate lighting and position screens/monitors to minimize glare
• Ensure your environment is free of excessive noise and private enough for you to work securely

Working from home should not be any less safe or comfortable than being in an office environment. Thinking through these considerations can help you stay free of pains and strains after a day at the home office.

Reports of the hazards of a sedentary lifestyle seem to be everywhere, and some workers are refusing to take the news sitting down.

Now that the traditional “desk and chair” workstation has been cast as the office villain, a variety of alternatives have emerged. In some workplaces, traditional seated workstations are giving way to configurations in which the user stands or moves while working. Standing desks or sit/stand workstations are becoming an increasingly common option, and some have taken it even further by combining desks with exercise devices like treadmills or balance balls.

As employers consider adopting these devices, questions about safety are emerging.

Is the employer liable if someone gets hurt while using an alternative workstation?

If a worker becomes injured while using an exercise device, the question of liability traditionally hinges on the notion of “voluntary use.” If an exercise device is sponsored by the employer as part of a voluntary recreational program, then liability for an injury that occurs while using it would typically rest with the worker. The liability can shift to the employer in cases where the alternative workstation is a job requirement or is put in place as part of an approved medical treatment plan for the employee.

In general, the best approach is to leave the decision to use an alternative workstation to the discretion of the employee. For a definitive recommendation regarding any issues of liability, it’s always best to consult an attorney who specializes in employment law in your state.

Are alternative workstations such as standing desks safe?

When used correctly, these devices can certainly be a component of a safe workplace. It’s important to make sure the equipment is installed properly so it doesn’t place the user in a position that could lead to injury or stress. As with traditional desks and chairs, any new workstations should undergo an on-site ergonomic evaluation and be monitored for continued safety.

In addition to recommending general ergonomic precautions, safety experts have identified some specific risks:

• Standing workstations: Standing is more tiring than sitting, and standing all day comes with its own health risks. Prolonged standing places a greater strain on the circulatory system, as well as on the legs and feet.
• Treadmill desks: Proper positioning of the treadmill is an important consideration. An improperly placed device can launch a worker who stops walking into a wall or other impediment.
• Balance balls: While a certain amount of instability is inherent to a balance ball, too much instability presents a risk of falling. Factors to consider are whether the ball is inflated properly, and whether the device is surrounded by a frame.

Are they effective?

Standing desks and alternative workstations can definitely be helpful if used as part of an overall campaign to encourage workers to move. The key to counteracting the perils of working in the same position all day is to build frequent variety of movement into the daily routine.

Alternative workstations can help, but they shouldn’t be viewed as the sole remedy. Without continued encouragement from the employer to stay active, workers often fall back into their low-motion routines. By itself, no device constitutes a simple way to reverse the negative effects of sitting still at a desk all day. Building movement into the day should be the goal.

SFM offers a variety of videos, covering topics such as safety, return-to-work and the claims process. All videos are available on our YouTube channel .

The following are 10 of our most popular videos:

• The Safety Adventures of Skip: Preventing winter slips and falls
  Skip, the workplace safety superhero, intervenes to prevent a slip-and-fall injury in a snowy office parking lot.

• The Safety Adventures of Skip: Avoiding slips and falls in kitchen environments
  Skip demonstrates the best ways to prevent slips and falls while working in a kitchen.

• Avoid winter slips and falls: Icy parking lot safety
  Watch as two SFM Sports broadcasters discuss winter safety highlights and show you the best ways to avoid slips and falls while walking through snowy, icy parking lots.

• How to walk like a penguin
  Learn how to walk like a penguin and avoid slips and falls caused by snow and ice.

• Avoid winter falls: Walk like a penguin
  Watch some real penguins demonstrate the best way to walk in winter to avoid injury.

• The Safety Adventures of Skip: Preventing back injuries while lifting
  Skip gives tips on how to properly lift heavy boxes to avoid back injuries.

• Get up and Move
  In this music video, learn how to avoid pain, strains and injuries by taking breaks throughout the day to get up and move.

• Coming soon to a parking lot near you: Danger of winter slips and falls
  This horror movie trailer demonstrates the danger of slip-and-fall injuries in snowy parking lots.

• Avoid a fall: Step down. Not out … from the curb
  Learn how to step down, not out off a curb to avoid slipping and falling.

• Avoid a fall: Step down. Not out … from your car
  Learn a technique for preventing a fall while getting out of your car.