| Slips and trips maybe seen by some as funny but | | | | slip and trip hazards and if possible prevent them |
| they are in fact the most common cause of major | | | | occurring. |
| injuries at work with over a third of all injuries | | | | 2. Organisation |
| reported each year caused by slip or trip accidents. In | | | | Get workers involved in and committed to reducing |
| fact slip or trip accidents account for: | | | | risks. This should involve giving people responsibilities |
| 20% of injuries where the employee is absent for | | | | to ensure that areas of the workplace are kept safe |
| over 3-days | | | | and then making sure everyone is aware who is |
| 33% of all reported major injuries | | | | responsible for each area. |
| 2 fatalities per year | | | | 3. Control |
| 50% of all reported accidents to members of the | | | | Keep a record of cleaning and maintenance work and |
| public | | | | encourage good health and safety. |
| A cost of 368 million per year to employers in lost | | | | 4. Monitor and Review |
| production and other costs | | | | Keep an accident log and re-examine it on a regular |
| The highest rate of injuries occurs in the food and | | | | basis to learn from incidents that have occurred. |
| drink, repair of consumer goods and vehicle sectors. | | | | 5. Examine slip and trip risks |
| However with almost all workplaces being affected | | | | The Health and Safety Executive recommend a 5 |
| by this type of injury and with most slips occurring | | | | step approach to risk management when dealing with |
| due to poor housekeeping, solutions to the problem | | | | slip and trip risks and these are: |
| are often simple and cost-effective. | | | | Step 1 Look for slip and trip hazards around the |
| Northern Counties Insurance Brokers, the UK | | | | workplace (e.g., uneven floors, trailing cables, areas |
| Insurance Broker and experts in risk management | | | | that are sometimes slippery due to spillages) |
| have produced these Top Tips on how you can | | | | Step 2 Decide who might be harmed and how. Are |
| reduce your exposure to risk and with it your | | | | the people who come into your workplace at risk? |
| insurance premiums. | | | | Step 3 Consider the risks do you already have |
| 1. Planning | | | | precautions to deal with the risks? |
| By having an effective management system in place | | | | Step 4 Record your findings if you have 5 or more |
| the key areas of risk can be identified and goals can | | | | employees |
| be set to make improvements. This should include | | | | Step 5 Regularly review the assessment. |
| selecting equipment and work practices that contain | | | | |