Trips and Slips – Preventing Work Accidents

Published on Sep 27

Slips, trips and falls in the workplace are common – and are a leading cause of work accidents. Every year falls in the workplace cost employers 500 million pounds. Preventing slip and trip work accidents can help avoid unnecessary suffering and reduce the financial costs to your business.

Trip, Slips and Falls: The common dangers

What Causes Trips and Slips in the Workplace?

Work accidents caused by falls are commonly caused by:

·         Uneven or damaged flooring

·         Unsuitable choice of floor surface

·         Wet floors (often without warning signs)

·         Electrical cables trailing across the floor.

·         Ineffective lighting (too dim, flickering)

·         Untidy workplaces full of clutter

Assessing the risks of slips, trips and falls

The government Health and Safety Executive suggests a clear approach to assessing trips, slips and falls in the workplace.

1.    Observation Look closely for slip and trip hazards around the workplace. This should be a detailed assessment, not a quick glance around.  When assessing outdoor areas, make sure you consider risks in other weather conditions – not just the weather on the day of risk assessment!

2. Who is at Risk? Next, decide who might be harmed and how. Don’t just consider regular employees, but also members of the public and contract workers.

3. Assess the risks. What is dangerous about a hazard and how can it be prevented? In terms of slips and trips, ask yourself if floor coverings are suitable for the work carried out there? Do you carry out regular inspections? How do you warn employees about the danger?

Effective prevention

The most important step in any risk assessment is action. Taking practical measures to prevent accidents before they happen is the most effective way of reducing work accidents.

There are hundreds of solutions for preventing slips and trips in the workplace. These are some of the most common:

§  Tidy Workplaces — Clutter and mess on the floors and major surfaces is a leading cause of trips and falls – but one of the easiest to prevent. By keeping the workplace clean and tidy, with walkways kept clear of obstacles and rubbish regularly disposed of – you can dramatically reduce the risk of work accidents.

§  Lighting — The level of light in the workplace can have a dramatic effect on its overall safety. Light should allow all workers to comfortably see. If a worker is straining to see obstacles- there is a great danger of slips and trips

§  Stairways — Make sure that you install handrails and slip-resistant covers to any steps in the workplace. Using high visibility markings on the front edges of steps can help to prevent work accidents caused by slips and trips.

§  Spillages — Any spilt liquid should be cleaned up immediately. Use warning signs to alert employees to where the floor is wet. If possible, arrange alternative routes until the spillage has completely dried.

§  Electrical cables — place your electrical and IT equipment in strategic places so cables do not cross walkways. If possible, use cable covers to fix cables and reduce tripping risks.

§  Appropriate footwear  – Even in an office environment – correct footwear is important. Stilettos or heeled shoes pose a much bigger danger than flat soles.  Offer clear guidelines to employees about suitable footwear and for specialist environments – provide suitable shoes.