The cost of these accidents is believed to cost the UK economy £811 million per year through lost time, treatment and other related costs.

In the time it takes to read this magazine, it is likely that someone will have broken or fractured a bone, on average one person will suffer such an injury every 25 minutes. What is worse, every week one person will die from a work-related slip, trip or fall.  

Given these figures, it is not surprising that this year the HSE are focusing on slips and trips in the workplace with a campaign titled 'Shattered Lives'. The campaign is targeting those most at risk of a slip, trip or fall at work and those best placed to take action. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the risks and help those involved to take simple action that will prevent slips, trips and falls.

Full details of the campaign and downloadable resources can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website: www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics show that slips and trips account for:

• 11,000 major accidents per year; or
• 38% of all major accidents reported.
• 27,000 over 3-day injuries; or
• 24% of all reported over 3-day injuries.

Whilst the likelihood of experiencing a slip or trip related accident varies across the industry sectors, no industry is immune from this type of accident. The main causes of slips and trips are wet or uneven floor surfaces, spillages left unattended to and poor housekeeping. Indeed, it is thought that half of all such accidents are attributable to poor housekeeping.

There are some simple low cost solutions to this problem:

• Provide adequate receptacles for waste to keep the floor clear
• Site ‘messy’ operations away from pedestrian walkways.
• Keep work areas free of clutter and provide adequate storage for equipment, tools and products.
• Deal with spillages in a timely manner.
• Ensure that your employees have ready access to suitable cleaning materials, such as brushes, mops and paper towels to allow them to clean as they go.

Note - A well-wrung wet mop will still leave a floor in a wet and slippy condition, the use of a well maintained squeegee and a dry mop will help speed up the drying time and leave the floor in a safe condition. Dirty mops and cleaning equipment will only add to the problem by spreading the dirt and grease across the floor surface. Also, coning off an area will only serve to warn of the hazard; it will not prevent everyone from entering into that area so you shouldn't simply rely on this practice.

Obviously not all slips, trips and falls are attributable to poor housekeeping and there are other things to consider such as:

• Identify areas where a person may trip and, if these hazards can't be removed or avoided, ensure that they are clearly identified with high visibility markings such as nosings on stairs.
• Clearly identify safe walkways to avoid areas known to be hazardous.
• Ensure that all lighting is in good working order to allow employees to see any hazards.
• Ensure all loose cables are secured and do not trail onto walkways.
• When looking to refit existing premises or build new, consider the type of flooring to be used and look for one which provides a suitable level of grip.
• Where necessary, provide suitable footwear particularly when working outdoors. (When sourcing footwear you should let your supplier know exactly what you require and the environment in which the footwear is to be used, so that they can recommend the most appropriate type of sole.)

As with all workplace disciplines, managers can make a significant impact leading by example. If they see a spillage they should clear it up immediately, this will send a strong message to your workforce. If they see a trip hazard, either remove it immediately or arrange for the area to be suitably marked until appropriate repairs can be made.

Employee involvement is another key aspect to reducing any type of accident. With respect to slips and trips you should ensure that your workforce are suitably trained and made aware of any known hazards in the workplace. They should adopt a 'clean as you go' procedure and they should know how to report structural defects which could result in an accident.

As an employer, you have a legal duty to ensure the safety of your employees and to provide a safe place of work. You are also required to undertake a risk assessment of any hazards and document the assessment for all significant hazards. With respect to slips and trips, the assessment should:

• Look for any slip and trip hazards in the workplace.
• Decide who might be harmed and how.
• Consider the risk, or likelihood of a slip or trip occurring.
• Determine any remedial measures required to reduce the likelihood of a slip or trip occurring.
• Record your findings.

Once a risk assessment has been completed, you must then communicate the findings to your employees making them aware of the hazards and associated risks. The risk assessment should then be reviewed on a regular basis or following an accident.

By taking some simple precautions, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of a slip or trip related accident occurring in your workplace. This will have a positive impact on your productivity, reducing the number of days lost through sickness due to injury and reducing your exposure to legal action and civil claims.

References

www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives