5 Common Hazards In The Bathroom To Watch Out For

Tiles in a bathroom are a really smart look and they’re quite practical from the standpoint of cleaning thanks to their hard, smooth surface. However even bathroom tiles that are designed with anti-slip properties can be susceptible to slip hazards when build up of water pools. We’ve probably all seen a bathroom after a few showers and no wipedown – there’s going to be some moisture from the heat and people exiting the shower.

Even someone with full body mobility can slip on tiles. When you add in mobility impairment that may prevent one from steadying themselves or distributing their weight properly, you have an even greater risk of fall.

 

There are a number of ways to mitigate the risks of slippery tiles including anti-slip mats, grab bars and even simple bath mats. But beyond preventative measures like this, the household should get into the habit of wiping the floor with a towel after use, and keeping windows open and extractor fans going.

For someone with serious mobility challenges such as someone in a wheelchair, it may be worth exploring a full bathroom mobility system like Showerbuddy which takes care of the transfers into and out of the shower, onto the toilet and to wash up, all in a comfortable seated position. This sort of system is designed to be sturdy in a slippery environment giving peace of mind to both the individual sitting down and the support person.

Have you ever sat down on the toilet only for you to lose balance suddenly thanks to a loose toilet seat fixture? Imagine this happening with reduced mobility such as an elderly or injured person. The reaction time and ability to adjust body position can be seriously reduced and therefore a slip on a toilet seat coming loose may lead to bumping one’s head on a vanity, basin, shower door, bath edge or even onto the floor.

The good news is that mitigating loose toilet seat issues can be achieved in a number of ways. The first and most obvious is doing routine checks of the toilet seat and its screws and mounting to the toilet bowl. If there is any play or give, get this tightened or replaced. For someone with poor mobility, another way to address such concerns (and others relating to inability to achieve comfortable toilet use) would be to investigate mobility equipment that allows a heightened sitting position over the toilet.

 

Some free-standing toilet risers on the market will allow a more comfortable approach and sitting position but not provide much else. A Showerbuddy chair will provide excellent toilet use support but will also be used for bathing inside a shower or bathtub and moving around the bathroom generally – all without leaving the chair.

If your bathroom is configured with a tub instead of a standing shower unit, you’ll want to consider the slip hazards associated with getting into, out of and using the bathtub.

Like the bathroom floor, a bathtub slip can affect anyone – mobility impaired or not. But with a reduction in strength and balance, a mobility-affected person can be at greater risk of injury from using the bathtub.

 

A wet bathtub can create slips on the edge where users steady themselves to enter. The floor of the bathtub during usage can also commonly create slips if the floor of the tub has not been properly designed to mitigate this.

Anti-slip options are really important for any bathtub, regardless of your level of mobility. Falls inside the bathtub can lead to really nasty injuries such as colliding with fixtures or inadvertently knocking the temperature control high (another reason why it’s a good idea to get a plumber to ensure the maximum shower temperature is safe). You also don’t want to have an ineffective anti-slip mat that itself becomes a tripping hazard.

Again, for someone with considerable mobility challenges, it’s better to explore purpose built assistive technology that removes these slip hazards entirely, such as our SB2 and SB2T range built to transfer in and out of a bathtub, and using it – all without touching the bathtub itself.

We don’t need to tell you just how badly electrical appliances and water mix.

In the bathroom it’s important to keep all plugs and switches well off the floor and positioned away from the splashing distance of the shower or bath. Bathroom power outlets are a specially designed product category distinct for typical household outlets, so it’s important to ensure that your bathroom has these and they’re positioned properly. If you’re unsure how to approach this you should consult both a qualified electrician and health and safety resources in your region.