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Newsletter Article - February 2009

Slips Trips and Falls

Starting in February 2009, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is renewing its campaign to prevent injury through slips, trips and falls.

We've all done it – slipped or tripped, perhaps because of our own carelessness or because of someone else's negligence. When it happens we often feel foolish and try to make light of it. Falls from height seems to be another common experience that we don't think too much about.

The risks are significant

The facts are that almost a third of all serious injuries reported to the HSE are the result of slips, trips or falls. In the UK such accidents account for around one fatality a week.

They are the main cause of accidents that result in more than 3 days absence from work, so everybody loses out, both employees and employers. It's time we all got serious about the risks.

This year the sectors at which the campaign is particularly aimed are Health, Education, Construction, Food Retail, Food and Drink Manufacturing, Catering and Maintenance. However, the advice applies to us all, regardless of where we are employed.

Simple measures reduce risks

The approach to reducing risks is the same as for other aspects of Health and Safety:

  • Identify problem areas in the workplace
  • Decide what needs to be done to manage the risks and do it
  • Monitor the results to ensure improvements are maintained

Typical of the types of intervention needed to reduce risks are:

  • Educate the workforce to the risks of injury and typical causes
  • Ensure floors are in good condition (no bumps or holes) and are not slippery. Inspect floor coverings such as carpeting to ensure they are in good condition
  • Provide adequate lighting, either natural or artificial for all areas used by employees and others
  • Enforce good housekeeping standards to avoid obstacles and clutter in areas where people need access. If obstacles are unavoidable, provide suitable barriers and warning signs
  • Avoid trailing cables, air lines and similar trip hazards
  • Don't allow rubbish to accumulate. Minimize hazards by regular cleaning and maintenance
  • Examine stairways in particular. Steps should be slip resistant and well lit. There should be appropriate hand and guard rails that are securely fastened
  • Clean up spills as quickly as possible. If this results in wet floors, provide adequate warning signs. Similarly, avoid slippery floors at entrances and exits due to ingress of rain or snow
  • If there are any hazards that cannot be eliminated, ensure there are adequate warnings in place
  • Ensure employees wear footwear that is suitable for the environment. if risks cannot be avoided by any other means, provide Personal Protective Equipment by way of specialised footwear
  • Most of these precautions apply to indoor and outdoor locations. However, outdoor locations may need additional actions to counter the effects of inclement weather, for example

In general, none of the precautions listed above are likely to incur major cost. They represent standard design principles combined with a little common sense on everybody's part.

However, with familiarity it is easy to overlook the obvious, which is why it can help to have an independent person, who knows what to look for, to assess your workplace.

Additional help from the HSE

As part of the campaign, the HSE has published some helpful tools on their website, to raise awareness and to address the risks. They include:

Accidents are costly for everyone.

Simple accidents can have horrendous consequences for people and their families. The financial costs for businesses is also significant in terms of absenteeism, sick pay, productivity loss and possibly even prosecution.

Our own consultants can assist you by carrying out a comprehensive assessment of your workplace and recommending cost-effective measures to minimise the risk of accidents and injury. We can restrict our assessment to slips, trips and falls or we can combine it with a wider programme of risk assessments. It's worth giving us a call to discuss your needs and how we can help.





Contact EDP HS&E Consultants for all your health, safety and environment needs. We can check your current arrangements and advise you about any changes or improvements you need to make.

To discuss your requirements, without any obligation on your part, please gives us a call on 01744 766000 or complete the Enquiry Form on our website.



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