Supermarket Fails to Prevent Worker’s Slipping Accident

A worker at Morrisons supermarket suffered a fractured elbow when she slipped at the Ipswich store just months after the local council had warned that flooring in parts of the store posed a slipping hazard.

Morrisons had been warned that the smooth highly polished terrazzo floor tiles in food preparation areas became extremely slippery when oil or grease was spilled on them. The council’s Environmental Health Officer recommended that the company take steps to avoid the slipping hazard by either providing staff with special footwear or by treating the tiles with a special coating to increase the floor slip resistance.

The supermarket management ignored the warnings and failed to take any action to prevent workers from slipping on the tiles in food preparation areas. Following the injury to it’s employee the supermarket was prosecuted and ordered to pay over £54,000 in fines and costs.

The accident in this case could easily have been avoided if the supermarket had followed advice to reduce the slip risks behind the food counters of its stores. Supermarkets have a duty to protect both its employees and customers from any slipping hazard which could result in accident or injury. Unfortunately, even in cases where there have been warnings and advice about slipping risks, supermarkets do not always comply with their duty under the law, and as a result slipping accidents occur and lead to injuries to workers and customers alike.

If you have been injured in a supermarket slipping accident within the past three years you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Contact us for free advice about a personal injury claim. We offer free, no obligation advice by phone or meeting and free home visits are available throughout Lancashire. We act on a no win – no fee basis and our clients keep 100% of any compensation awarded.