The main cause of injury and reportable accidents associated with both the manufacturing and the service industries are caused through people slipping, tripping or falling.  

This type of accident is sometimes overlooked because people generally consider them to be trivial. However, the injuries can be very serious, including broken arms and legs. Slips, trips and falls can also lead to long term injury. For example, if someone falls and injures their back, this may lead to spinal problems, which stops them from carrying out their normal job. 

It is believed that the cost to employers from accidents associated with slips trips and falls is over £300 million a year. It is therefore important that you do not dismiss these accidents as mere clumsiness on the part of the individual who has had the accident. 

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states that employers must carry out a risk assessment to:

• Assess the risks; and
• Identify control measures to ensure the health and safety of employees and members of the public.

This means that as an employer you must identify all the significant risks in the workplace. By doing that you can make sure that measures are in place so that slips, trips and falls do not occur.

The main areas of concern are:

Floors

If floors are uneven or in poor repair they could cause someone to trip and fall. It is important that you make regular checks to ensure that they are kept in a safe condition.

Floor Coverings

Most floors have some form of floor covering. These can include carpets, tiles or vinyl. Consideration must be made when laying such coverings to ensure that they are suitable for that environment.

For example:

• The use of a very smooth floor covering within a kitchen which will have grease and water spillages regularly is unlikely to be suitable or;
• The use of thin grade vinyl is unlikely to cope within a bakery which has large amount of trolley movements.

Mats and carpets must be secured to ensure that they do not move or lift and present a trip hazard.

Housekeeping

If there are large amounts of stock blocking traffic routes this may increase the risks of tripping or items falling and causing injury. Items such as trailing cables should be routed so that they do not present a trip hazard. These can be covered with cable protectors or preferably moved so removing the hazard.

Lighting

Poor lighting may conceal hazards, which would normally be clearly visible. Identification or areas where the lighting may be less than adequate is essential. Particular attention should be paid to stairs, cupboards that people go into rarely, cellars etc.

Footwear

Make sure staff are supplied with the correct footwear. If the type of work requires special protective footwear employers must provide that footwear free of charge. In a study carried out by the Health and Safety Local Authority Unit on accidents between the period 31/12/98 and 31/12/99 it was found that women employees accounted for the majority of slip trip and fall injuries. This may because of the choice of shoes that ladies wear. It is therefore very important that staff are clearly made aware of the importance of appropriate shoes

Other Sources of Information

Slips and trips Guidance for employers on identifying hazards and controlling risks HSG155 19996 ISBN 07176 1145 0. The following checklist may be useful when you examine your workplace:

Floor

• Is it uneven?
• Does the floor change level between rooms?
• Are there loose floorboards?
• Are there any holes in the floor?

Carpets & Fittings

• Are mats and rugs likely to move when some one walks on them?
• Is the floor covering lifting around the edges?
• Is the floor covering worn?
• Is the floor covering suitable for the environment? (Are there likely to be spillages from either wet or dry substances).

Lighting

• Is lighting adequate?
• Are there any areas where it would be difficult to see obstructions, spillages etc?

Housekeeping

• Does the area get overcrowded with boxes or excessive stock?
• Are passageways blocked or restricted?
• Are there trailing cables across passageways?

Footwear

Do the staff have appropriate footwear? (Does it have sufficient grip, does it cope with conditions, i.e. wet floors or flour spillages etc).