Walk this way / Slip Simulator teaches safety, one step at a time

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Training device introduced as part of a slips, trips and falls prevention campaign for North Slope workers

June 22, 2026

Alaska Communications and Community Relations Advisor Molly Cornish tries the Slip Simulator at the Alpine Operations Center on Alaska's Western North Slope.

Welcome to Alaska’s North Slope, where snow and ice persist for much of the year.

“It’s 6 below right now,” said Catie Baldridge, North Slope health, safety and environment (HSE) supervisor, describing the conditions outside her office at the Kuparuk Operations Center on March 5. “That’s the warmest it’s been in several weeks."

An intense winter storm had moved through the weekend before, bringing extreme cold, high winds and low visibility.

"We got a bunch of blown in snow," she said, "so you can’t see what’s underneath. If it warms up into the teens or 20s, we’ll get ice spots.”

Kuparuk Main Camp is a facility on Alaska's North Slope and serves as the primary base camp for field operations. The Kuparuk Operations Center, located within the camp complex, was the first North Slope site to host Slip Simulator training.

Navigating that slippery terrain is a significant safety challenge for North Slope workers.

To address these risks, ConocoPhillips Alaska takes a proactive approach by training workers to recognize and manage hazards. All employees and contractors working on the North Slope are required to complete a safety course focused on preventing slips, trips and falls.

During the 2024–25 winter season, ConocoPhillips Alaska strengthened these efforts with an expanded safety campaign. As part of this initiative, the company implemented a Slip Simulator, a training device with a smooth surface designed to replicate slippery conditions.

Participants wear a harness and special slide shoes while walking on the simulator’s slick surface, gaining firsthand knowledge into how their movements affect balance, stability and traction.

Introduced first at Kuparuk, the simulator delivered strong results and reinforced its value.

Standing tall with her shoulders back, Molly Cornish readies herself for another run on the Slip Simulator. Browse the photo gallery below for more images from her training.

As a result of its effectiveness, the company acquired another simulator for use at Alpine and Willow on the Western North Slope. ConocoPhillips Alaska also purchased and donated a simulator to the Alaska Safety Alliance in Anchorage, supporting safer practices for industries statewide.

More than 1,000 workers have completed the training, which combines hands-on simulator exercises with classroom discussions on real-life scenarios. This approach resulted in a 62% decrease in slip-related injuries compared to the same period last year.

The improvement did not go unnoticed. ConocoPhillips Alaska received the 2025 Region X Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Innovation Award for its 2024-25 slips, trips and falls campaign.

The award recognizes organizations that have developed and successfully implemented an innovation to address worker safety and health challenges, encouraging others to adopt new approaches and emphasizing creativity and flexibility in problem-solving.

“We are honored to receive the Region X VPP Innovation Award, and even more proud of the impact this program has had on worker safety,” said HSE Vice President Jason Charton. “By equipping employees with practical skills, we are fostering a safer working environment not only in our operations but throughout Alaska.”

Safety culture | Discover how learning strengthens safety at ConocoPhillips

Slip Simulator training

Trainer Risto St. Luise prepares Molly for a practice run on the Slip Simulator.

Safety harness

Trainer Risto St. Luise prepares Molly Cornish for a practice run on the Slip Simulator, a training tool designed to help reduce injuries caused by slippery conditions. During the exercise, participants wear a safety harness attached to the simulator that safely catches them if they lose their footing, allowing them to experience a slip in a controlled environment and adjust their technique.

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Slide shoes

Participants wear special slide shoes while walking on the simulator’s slick surface. A light layer of soapy water is applied to the simulator’s glass tiles to create controlled, slippery conditions for training.

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Real-world hazards

Once participants are comfortable with the basics, they take on more challenging tasks, such as carrying a box or a cup of water to simulate real-life distractions. Trainers can also introduce obstacles, including a curb or stairs, to further challenge participants and mirror the types of hazards they may encounter on the job, all within a controlled training environment.

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Practicing

Molly practices her footing on the Slip Simulator, refining her technique for walking on slippery surfaces.

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Safer steps

Molly navigates an incline and step on the Slip Simulator, practicing how to maintain her balance on uneven, slippery surfaces.

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Controlled slips

Molly experiences a slip on the Slip Simulator but remains securely supported by the safety harness.

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Molly Cornish practices on the Slip Simulator.

Training session

Molly practices on the Slip Simulator under the guidance of trainer Risto St. Luise, building her skills for walking safely on slippery surfaces.

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Traction devices

On the North Slope, slick walkways, frozen surfaces and unpredictable weather can make every step a challenge, turning routine tasks into tests of skill and vigilance. To help prevent injuries, workers are required to wear traction devices, like the ones shown above, to maintain their footing and reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls on icy surfaces.

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Walk this way / Slip Simulator teaches safety, one step at a time

Safety culture | Discover how learning strengthens safety at ConocoPhillips