Slips, Trips and Falls: Health and Safety Information

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.

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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?



• 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?

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What law applies?

• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

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• Preventing slips and trips at work INDG225(rev1) (available in packs of 15 ISBN 0717627608 £5.00)



• Workplace health, safety and welfare INDG244(rev1) (available in packs of 10 ISBN 07176 6192 X £5.00)

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Slips and trips website:www.hse.gov.uk/slips

Related Publications:

HSE HSG156 Slips and trips. £9.75 find out more

HSE HSG155 Slips and trips. £7.50 find out more