Avoiding Workplace Trip & Slip Accidents

An employer owes his employees a duty to provide a safe place of work. In addition workplace health and safety regulations place upon employers a duty to prevent, where possible, a tripping or slipping hazard from arising.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) reports that most slips occur in wet or contaminated conditions and most trips are due to poor housekeeping. Tripping hazards can also arise due to poor design or lack of maintenance of the workplace.

 

What should my employer do to avoid tripping & slipping accidents at work?

 

Employers can take simple steps to prevent trip and slip hazards from arising and to reduce the risk of accidents including:

• good housekeeping and cleaning regime
• management of spillages and cleaning regimes
• effective matting systems in vulnerable areas such entrance areas
• choice of suitable footwear – for instance provision of slip resistant footwear where appropriate
• maintenance of plant and the work environment
• use of appropriate flooring

 

Wet floors and Spillages

If a workplace floor becomes wet or slippery due to a leak or spillage immediate steps should be taken to fence off the area and clean up the spill. However, many workplace slipping accidents occur after a floor has been mopped and it is still wet. Employers should therefore prevent employees from entering the area until the floor is properly dry or they should use an appropriate method to dry the floor before allowing it to be used.

In cases where it is not possible to prevent a floor from becoming wet or the floor is subject to spillages the employer should ensure that the floor is of such construction that it does not become unduly slippery when wet – for example the non-slip flooring used around swimming pools. In some cases it is appropriate for an employer to apply a slip resistant coating to the floor and / or provide employees with slip resistant footwear.

If it is not possible to avoid a slip or trip hazard from arising the employer has a duty to warn the employee of the hazard.

The HSE provides further information about the steps that an employer can take to avoid slipping and tripping accidents at work.

Making a no win – no fee claim after a workplace tripping or slipping accident

If you have suffered an injury at work in a tripping or slipping accident you may be entitled to claim compensation for personal injury if the accident was in some way caused by your employer’s failure to properly assess the trip or slip risk and take adequate steps to prevent the tripping or slipping hazard which caused the accident.

Beckett & Co Solicitors will offer free, no obligation advice by either phone or a free meeting, at our office or at your home, to assess your potential claim and answer any questions that you may have. There is no need for you to worry about the costs of making a claim as we can act on a no win – no fee basis. For free advice regarding your personal injury claim contact us:

Freephone  0800 7315434  or complete our contact form and we will contact you.