Preventing Slips and Trips at Work

7/31/2019 Preventing Slips and Trips at Work

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Preventingslips and tripsat work


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Prevent ing s l ip s a n d t r ip s a t w o r k


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P r e v e n t i n g s l ip s a n d t r i p s a t work

Preventingslips and tripsat work

Over a third of all major injuries reported each year are caused

as a result of a slip or trip ( the single most common causeof injuries at work ). These cost employers over 512 milliona year in lost production and other costs.

Slips and trips are the most common cause of non-fatal majorinjuries in both the manufacturing and service sectors andaccount for over half of all reported injuries to members of thepublic. Recognising the importance of slips and trips, the

Government and the Health and Safety Commission haveincluded this topic as one of eight national priority programmeswith new targets set to improve health and safety performance.These targets were published in the Revitalising Health and Safety strategy statement of June 2000.

Legal actions brought as a result of an injury can be extremelydamaging to business, especially where the public are involved.

Insurance covers only a small proportion of the costs.Anyone at work, but particularly employers, can help to reduceslip and trip hazards through good health and safetyarrangements.

Effective solutions are often simple, cheap and lead to otherbenefits.


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tools to avoid trailing cablesacross working areas. This allhelps to remove or minimiserisks.

Organisation Workers need tobe involved and committed toreducing risks. Give people (egsupervisors) responsibilities toensure that areas of the work-place are kept safe, eg gettingspillages and objects cleaned upquickly, keeping access routesclear and ensuring lighting ismaintained. Keep a record ofwho is responsible for which

Managinghealth andsafety

A good management system

will help you to identify problemareas, decide what to do, acton decisions made and checkthat the steps taken have beeneffective.

A good system should involve:

Planning Identify key areasof risk and set goals forimprovement. Employers canwork w ith employees to identifyareas on site that they thinkare a slipping and tripping risk(remember that there will beabout 40 cases of a slip o r

stumble, resulting in no or minorinjury for every major injuryacc ident). Careful selection ofmaterials, equipment and w orkpractices can p revent or containslip and trip hazards fromliquids, fine powders andobjects. For example fittingsplash guards and anti-slipfloorings in areas that cant bekept d ry and using cordless


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arrangements; take special careto include cleaning and othercontractors. Make these detailsclear to everyone.

Control Check to ensurethat working practices andprocesses are being carried outproperly, eg smooth floors arenot left wet, housekeeping isgood, and any leaks fromequipment and roof lights arerepaired quickly. Keep a recordof cleaning and maintenancework etc and encourage goodhealth and safety.

Monitor and review Monitoraccident investigation andinspection reports. Try toidentify any deficiencies in yourmanagement arrangements. Dothey show any improvement? Talkto any safety representativesabout slip and trip risks they can

be a great help when identifyingand solving problems. Employeesshould also be encouraged tobe involved in reviewing existingcontrol measures. They are oftenbetter placed to assess theeffectiveness of the measuresimplemented to reduce the risksof slipping and tripping.

Examineslip andtrip risks

All employers have to assessthe risks to employees andothers who may be affected bytheir work, eg visitors andmembers of the pub lic. Thishelps to find out what needs tobe done to control the risk. It isalso needed to satisfy the law.


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HSE recom mend a five-stepapproach to risk assessment,and slip and trip risks should beamong the risks examined.

Step 1 Look for slip and triphazards around the workplace,such as uneven floors, trailingcab les, areas that aresometimes slippery due tospillages. Include outdoor areas.

Step 2 Decide who mightbe harmed and how. Whocomes into the workplace? Arethey at risk? Do you have anycontrol over them? Rememberthat older people and peoplewith disabilities may be atparticular risk.

Step 3 Consider the risks.Are the precautions alreadytaken adequate to deal withthe risks?

Step 4 Record your findings ifyou have five or more employees.

Step 5 Regularly reviewthe assessment. If anysignificant changes take place,make sure existing precautions

and management arrangementsare still adequate to deal withthe risks.

What the law says

The Health and Safety atWork etc Act 1974 (HSWA)

requires employers to ensurethe health and safety of allemployees and anyone whomay be affected by their work.This includes taking steps tocontrol slip and trip risks.

Employees must not endanger

themselves or others and m ustuse any safety equipmentprovided.


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Manufacturers and suppliershave a duty to ensure thattheir products are safe.They must also provide

adequate information aboutappropriate use.

The Management ofHealth and Safety at WorkRegulations 1999 build onHSWA and include duties onemployers to assess risks

(including slip and trip risks) andwhere necessary take action tosafeguard health and safety.

The Workplace (Health,Safety and Welfare)Regulations 1992 require floorsto be suitable, in good c onditionand free from obst ructions.People must be able to movearound safely.

Good working practice

Get conditions right from thestart - this will make dealing withslip and trip risks easier. Chooseonly suitable floor surfaces andparticularly avoid very smoothfloors in areas that will becomewet/contaminated (such askitchens and entrance halls).Ensure lighting levels aresufficient, properly planpedestrian and traffic routesand avoid overcrow ding.

Cleaningand maintenance

Train workers in the correctuse of any safety and cleaningequipment provided.

Cleaning m ethods and

equipment must be suitablefor the type of surface beingtreated. You may need to get


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advice on the appropriatemethod of treatment, from themanufacturer or supplier. Takecare not to create additionalslip or trip hazards whilecleaning and maintenancework is being done.

Carry out all necessarymaintenance work promptly(you may need to get outsidehelp or guidance). Includeinspection, testing, adjustmentand cleaning at suitableintervals. Keep records so thatthe system can be checked.

Lighting should enablepeople to see obstructions,potentially slippery areas etc ,so they can work safely.Replace, repair or clean lightsbefore levels become too lowfor safe work.

Floors need to be checked forloose finishes, holes and cracks,worn rugs and mats etc. Takecare in the choice of floor if it islikely to become wet or dustydue to work processes. Seekspecialist advice when choosing

a floor for difficult conditions.

Obstructions and objects leftlying around can easily gounnoticed and cause a trip.Try to keep work areas tidy

and if obstructions cant beremoved, w arn people usingsigns or barriers. Cardboardshould not be used to absorbspillages as this itself presentsa tripping hazard.

Footwear can p lay an imp ortant

part in preventing slips and trips.


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Further advice is available in thefollowing HSE publications.

Slips and trips: Guidance for employers on identifying hazards and controlling risks HSG155

HSE Books 1996ISBN 0 7176 1145 0

Slips and trips: Guidance for the food processing industry HSG156HSE Books 1996

ISBN 0 7176 0832 8

This is especially importantwhere floors c ant be kept dry.Your footwear supplier should beable to advise on shoes/boots

with slip-resistant soles.Employers need to providefootwear, if it is necessary toprotect the w orkers safety.

There are many simple stepsyou can take to reduce risks.You will find a few examples

overleaf.


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Suggested actionHazard

Spillage of wet and drysubstances

Trailing cables

Miscellaneous rubbish, egplastic bags

Rugs/mats

Poor lighting

Clean spills up immediately, if aliquid is greasy, make sure asuitable cleaning agent is used.

After cleaning the floor can bewet for some time; dry it wherepossible. Use appropriate barriersto tell people the floor is still wetand arrange alternative bypassroutes. If cleaning is done once aday, it may be possible to do itlast thing at night, so it is dry forthe start of the next shift.

Position equipment to avoidcables crossing pedestrianroutes, use cable covers tosecurely fix to surfaces, restrictaccess to prevent contact.Consider use of cordless tools.Remember that contractors willalso need to be managed.

Keep areas c lear, remove rubb ishand do not allow it to build up.

Ensure mats are securely fixedand do not have curling edges.

Improve lighting levels andplacement of light fittings to

ensure more even lighting of allfloor areas.


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Hazard Suggested action

Assess the cause and treataccordingly, for example alwayskeep them dry if wet causes theproblem. In certain situations youmay have to treat themchemically and use appropriate

cleaning method etc.Provide suitable footwear, warn ofrisks by using signs, locatedoormats where these changesare likely.

Try to avoid. If you cant, improvelighting, add high visible treadnosings (ie white/ reflect ive edgeto step).

Improve visibility, provide handrails, use floor m arkings.

Eliminate or control by redirectingit away from risk areas; improve

ventilation and warn of it.Ensure workers choose suitablefootwear, particularly with thecorrect type of sole.

If the type of work requiresspecial protective footwear, theemployer is required by law toprovide it free of charge.

Slipp ery surfaces

Change from w et to dryfloor surface

Changes of level

Slopes

Smoke/steam obscuringview

Unsuitable footwear


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Further informationHSE priced and free publications are available by mailorder from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury,Suffolk CO10 2WATel: 01787 881165 Fax: 01787 313995Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk

(HSE priced publications are also available frombookshops and free leaflets can b e dow nloaded fromHSEs website: www.hse.gov.uk .)

For information about health and safety ring HSEsInfoline Tel: 08701 545500 Fax: 02920 859260e-mail: [email protected] write to HSE Information Services, Caerphilly

Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.Information can also be found on the HSE slips andtrips website ww w.hse.gov.uk/slips/ index.htm

This leaflet contains notes on good practicewhich are not compulsory but which you mayfind helpful in considering what you need to do.

This leaflet is available in priced packs of 15 fromHSE Books, ISBN 0 7176 2760 8. Single free copiesare also available from HSE Books.

Crown cop yright This publication may be freelyreproduced, except for advertising, endorsement orcom mercial purposes. First published 11/03. Please

acknowledge the source as HSE.

INDG225(rev1) 11/03 C2000Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive

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Preventing Slips and Trips at Work