Slips and trips are the most common cause of injury at work, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

An estimated 37 per cent of all reported workplace injuries and 28 per cent of all workplace fatalities are caused by a slip, a trip or a fall, with 95 per cent of major slips resulting in broken bones.

HSE statistics also reveal that slips comprise the majority of these three types of accident and tend to happen when floor surfaces are wet or contaminated with substances such as food and drink, oil or talc, sawdust, polythene and cardboard.

Even a very small amount of water or contaminant can dramatically reduce a floor’s slip resistance.

Staff in the food, drink and tobacco, hospitality and service industries are particularly at risk. And there’s a knock-on impact on employers, who lose an estimated £512 million a year in production and other costs. The cost of slips, trips and falls to the National Health Service is an estimated £133 million a year.

But the good news is that organisations can easily take proactive measures in order to reduce accidents.

Accidents are not inevitable, says the Construction Industry Research and Information Association’s guidance Safer Surfaces to Walk On: “The reality is that sensible precautions could eliminate the majority of these accidents.” In doing so, employers protect their staff, customers —and profits.

Know the legal requirements

Various regulations set out employers’ legal obligations to protect against slips, trips and falls and accidents in general. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) requires employers to provide a safe place of work and protect the health and safety of their employees. This includes taking steps to control slip and trip risks.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 furthers HSWA by requiring employers to assess risks (including slip and trip risks) and take preventative action where necessary.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (appendix 2) sets out the main requirements. It requires floors to be suitable, in good condition and free from obstructions, and for employees to be able to move around safely: “The floor, or surface of the traffic route, shall have no hole or slope, or be uneven or slippery, so as, in each case, to expose any person to risk to his health or safety.”

There is also the threat of civil action. Many organisations pay out thousands of pounds each year to claimants injured by poor surfacing. This is particularly important for facilities managers responsible for buildings used by members of the public where there is likely to be heavy traffic.

Take a systematic approach

Slips and trips are no laughing matter, contrary to their inclusion in many slapstick comedy routines. It’s important to take them seriously by having a system in place to identify key areas of risk; to methodically select materials and equipment and control working practices; to get the buy-in of the workforce to commit to reducing the risks; to ensure that spillages and objects are cleaned up quickly and records kept; to monitor and review incidences; and to assess the effectiveness of the measures implemented on an ongoing basis.

FM QUICK FACTS

28%
of all fatalities in the workplace are caused by a slip, a trip or a fall

95%
of major slips result in broken bones

Examine all the risks

Risks need to be analysed before they can be controlled, which requires carrying out a thorough examination of the entire workplace including outdoors. Everything from uneven floors to loose cables to areas that are prone to spillages must be examined.

Next, consider which staff or visitors might be harmed and how. Are there groups of staff particularly at risk, such as those working around water? Can you control their behavior to reduce the risks? Can precautions be taken to reduce the risks?

Carry out regular risk assessments, especially if there are significant changes to the workplace, and ensure that new staff are fully informed about the risks and their accompanying safety measures.

Managing the risks

The HSE suggest a hierarchy of controls to prevent slip risks. The first step is to prevent the floor getting contaminated in the first place. “A smooth, clean, dry floor, is rarely a slip risk.” Do this by ensuring that work practices are designed to limit contamination, as far as possible.

For example, that staff working in the kitchen are not simply dropping leftovers around them, but are using the bins.

Also, ensure that the workplace is designed in such a way as to prevent the floor from getting contaminated, such as by fixing leaking machines.

If you can’t stop the contamination, then take steps to control it. Ensure that procedures are in place to do this, such as staff cleaning up after themselves and doing so immediately after the floor gets contaminated, using Slippery Floor warning signs while cleaning.

Encourage staff to adopt the attitude that they have a responsibility for safety and risks can’t simply be passed on to others to deal with. Ensure there is a cleaning schedule and that it is being observed, and take steps to stop contamination spreading such as by using mats at entrances.

Environment concerns

Adverse environment conditions can also play a big part in causing trips and slips. Take preventative measures. For example, ensure that all areas are sufficiently lit; ensure that there are procedures in place to regularly clear up ice, snow or leaves on the external paths; fix leaks and drips and clean up condensation and humidity leaks; and, again, provide mats for people to dry their shoes.

Factors that are not controllable, but largely predictable, and so manageable to an extent, such as floor use, behaviour and footwear should also be factored in. In some industries employers can actually specify the type of footwear to be worn, such as a flat shoe with a sensible heel and with a good grip made of soft material.

From a trip risk perspective, corridors and other areas with high footfall should be kept clear, free from wires and obstructions.

Improving flooring

The flooring should be suitable for purpose. Where necessary, an expert can be called in to measure the slip resistance of flooring. A measurement is taken through the use of a pendulum and a surface microroughness meter.

If the condition is not optimum it may be necessary to enhance the roughness of the floor through better cleaning systems or through etching. Or it may be necessary to replace the floor material.

When doing so, ensure that the flooring is fitted correctly and that it is maintained as conditions do change significantly over time.

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