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Preventing Slips & Trips at Work: A Comprehensive Guide

Learn why you need to prevent slips and trips, understand the law, manage health and safety, examine hazards, and implement cleaning and maintenance practices. Discover practical actions to reduce risks and protect your employees.

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Preventing Slips & Trips at Work: A Comprehensive Guide

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  1. A guide to... Preventing Slips & Trips at Work

  2. Introduction The aim of this presentation: • Why you need to prevent slips and trips • What the Law says • Managing health and safety • Examining slips and trips • Cleaning and maintenance • Hazards and suggested actions

  3. Why? Why you need to prevent slips and trips... Slips and trips are the single most common cause of injury at work These slips cost employers over £512 million a year in lost production and other costs Legal actions brought as a result of an injury can be extremely damaging to business

  4. What the Law says... The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) Requires employers to ensure the health and safety of all employees. This includes taking steps to control slip and trip risks. The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Build on HSWA and include duties on employers to assess risks (including slip and trip). The Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 Require floors to be suitable, in good condition and free from obstructions. People must be able to move around safely.

  5. Managing Health & Safety A good management system will help you identify problem areas and decide how to act on them

  6. Managing Health & Safety A good management system will help you identify problem areas, decide what to do, act on decisions made and check that the steps taken have been effective Plan Organise Control Monitor & Review

  7. Planning • Identify key areas of risk and set goals for improvement • Employers and employees should work together to identify slip and trip hazards on site • Careful selection of materials, equipment and work practices can prevent or contain slip and trip hazards Plan

  8. Organisation • Workers need to be involved and committed to reducing risks • Give people responsibilities to ensure areas of the workplace are kept safe • Keep a record of who is responsible for which arrangements and make them clear to everyone Organise

  9. Control • Check to ensure working practices and processes are being carried out properly, eg smooth floors are not left wet • Keep a record of cleaning and maintenance work etc and encourage good health and safety Control

  10. Monitor & Review • Monitor your accident investigation and inspection records • Try and identify deficiencies in your arrangements – do they show improvement? • Talk to safety reps about slip and trip risks – they can be a great help when identifying and solving problems Monitor & Review

  11. Examining Slip & Trip Risks All employers have to assess the risks to employees and others who may be affected by their work. This is required to control the risks and satisfy the Law The HSE recommend a 5 step approach to slip and trip risk assessment

  12. Step 1 Look for slip and trip hazards around the workplace such as: • Uneven floors • Trailing cables • Slippery floors And don’t forget outside areas

  13. Step 2 Who might be harmed and how... • Who comes into the workplace? • Are they at risk? • Do you have control over them? Remember that older people and people with disabilities may be at particular risk.

  14. Step 3 Consider the risks... • Are the precautions already taken to deal with the risks?

  15. Step 4 Record your findings... • If you have 5 or more employees

  16. Step 5 Regularly review the assessment • If any significant changes take place, make sure existing precautions and management arrangements are still adequate to deal with the risks

  17. Cleaning & Maintenance Ensure you keep records of any cleaning and maintenance work carried out so that the system can be checked

  18. Training Train workers in the correct use of safety and cleaning equipment • Cleaning methods and equipment must be suitable for the purpose • Take care not to create additional slip or trip hazards while cleaning and maintenance is being carried out

  19. Best Practice People need to see obstructions and slippery areas – replace, repair or clean lights before they become too low for safe work Lighting - Check for loose finishes, holes and cracks, worn mats etc. Take care in the choice of floor if likely to become wet or dusty Floors - Objects lying around can cause a trip. Keep areas tidy and if obstructions can’t be moved, warn people using signs or barriers Obstructions - Especially important in preventing slips and trips where floors can’t be kept dry. Employers need to provide footwear if necessary to protect the workers safety. Footwear -

  20. Hazards & Suggested Actions There are many simple steps you can take to reduce risks...

  21. Hazards & Actions = Spillage of wet and dry substances • Clean up spills immediately • If a liquid is greasy ensure a suitable cleaning agent is used • Dry the floor after cleaning • Use appropriate barriers to warn the floor is • still wet • Arrange alternative bypass routes

  22. Hazards & Actions = Trailing cables • Position equipment to avoid cables crossing pedestrian routes • Use cable covers to securely fix to surfaces • Restrict access to prevent contact • Consider use of cordless tools • Remember that contractors need to • be managed

  23. Hazards & Actions = Miscellaneous rubbish, eg plastic bags • Keep areas clear • Remove all rubbish from work areas • Don’t allow rubbish to build up

  24. Hazards & Actions = Rugs and Mats • Ensure mats are securely fixed and do not have curling edges • Make sure your entrance mat was designed for that specific purpose – it will soak up the damp and dirt • from shoes

  25. Hazards & Actions = Poor Lighting • Improve lighting levels • Think about the placement of light fittings • Ensure more even lighting of all floor • areas so people can see obstructions

  26. Hazards & Actions = Slippery Surfaces • Assess the cause and treat accordingly • Always keep the surface dry if wet causes the problem • In certain situations you may have to • treat them chemically • Ensure you use appropriate cleaning • methods

  27. Hazards & Actions = Change from wet to dry floor surface • Provide suitable footwear • Warn of risks using signs • Locate door mats where these changes are likely

  28. Hazards & Actions = Changes of level and slopes • Try to avoid changes of level – if you can’t, improve lighting and highly visible tread nosing to steps etc • For slopes, improve visibility, provide handrails • and use floor markings to indicate the slope

  29. Hazards & Actions = Smoke/steam obscuring view • Eliminate or control by redirecting it away from risk areas • Improve ventilation and warn of it

  30. Hazards & Actions = Unsuitable footwear • Ensure workers wear suitable footwear, particularly with the correct type of sole • If the type of work requires special • footwear, the employer is required by law • to provide it free of charge This presentation contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do. Source: HSE. More information can be found on the HSE Slips and Trips website: www.hse.gov.uk/slips/index.htm

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