Though they might not sound serious, slips and trips account for a third of all major injuries reported in the workplace and cost businesses and the economy more than £750 million a year.
Having staff off sick because of slips and trips could damage your productivity. And if a customer or member of staff injures themselves on your premises, you could be hit by a claim for damages - only part of which is likely to be covered by your insurance.
People
mainly slip on floors that are wet, dirty or dusty - people rarely slip on clean, clear, dry floors, no matter how smooth they are.
People trip over damaged and uneven floors and objects left in their way. Poor lighting and visibility may increase the risk of a slip or trip.
Slip and trip accidents are the biggest cause of major injuries in the workplace. They can happen anywhere, so everyone is at risk. The majority of these major injuries (95%) result in a broken bone, meaning that workers will need significant time off work to recover.
What do employers need to do?
The good news is that there are some easy and simple things that can be done to reduce risks. Look out for:
- Floors that are wet, dirty, dusty or contaminated
- damaged or uneven floors or obstructive objects
- A poor cleaning regime using the wrong technique and cleaning product
- Poor lighting and visibility
- Consider other factors, for example workers carrying loads which may affect their ability to spot slip or trip hazards.
Slips and trips often cause other, more serious accidents. For example:
- People who slip or trip in a kitchen are at risk of being scalded
- People working on high platforms who slip or trip may fall from height
- Slipping while carrying a load may cause a strained back
By improving your employees' work environment you can keep absenteeism, insurance, wage and civil liability costs low. You should:
- put in place a management system
- carry out regular risk assessments
- make sure you read up on the relevant laws and regulations
For more information why not try:
The HSE Slips web pages
Use the Slip Assessment Tool (SAT) to identify slip hazards in your workplace