Slips, trips and falls

What are the chances of slipping or tripping at work?

The most common cause of injuries at work is the slip or trip. Resulting falls can be serious. They happen in all kinds of businesses, but sectors such as food and catering report higher than average numbers. It’s a particularly important subject if members of the public use your premises. The estimated cost to employers of all these injuries is over £500 million a year, and insurance only covers a small part of this. Effective solutions are often simple, cheap and lead to other benefits.

Does this concern me?

■ Do you have floors which are, or can become, slippery, eg when wet?

■ Does spillage or contamination occur and is it dealt with quickly?

■ Do people use unlit areas such as paths or yards in the dark?

■ Might temporary work such as maintenance or alterations take place? It could introduce slipping and tripping hazards such as trailing cables.

■ Do you use floor cleaning materials anywhere? Are the right methods and materials being used?

What law applies?

■ Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992