Preventing Slips, Trips And Falls In Your Business

As an employer you should make health and safety a priority in the workplace. Your employees have the right to feel safe from slips, trips and falls when on your premises. It is your duty to eliminate hazards and harmful materials which could cause harm to staff.

An accident by a slip, trip or fall will cause pain to the injured party, as well as possibly costing your business money. Avoid excessive staff sickness by installing the correct health and safety procedures, equipment and signs to ensure you are complying with the law.

The majority of falls are caused by contamination; spillages or wet flooring. These are easily avoided with appropriate housekeeping. 95% of major slips result in one or more broken bones, yet it is simple and cheap to carry out the necessary controls to avoid slips. Some common prevention methods of slips trips and falls include cleaning, wearing appropriate footwear, maintaining the workplace, having an appropriate design and flooring, carrying out sensible activities and health and safety training and supervision.

The most common causes of slips are usually wet surfaces. Both staff and customers need to be warned of wet floorings with warning signs, and spillages and water should be cleaned up as quickly and effectively as possible.

Employees should also be encouraged to wear the correct footwear whilst onsite. The definition of a fall is when the foot strikes an object, which causes you to lose balance. These are often caused by obtruding objects and so it is important to keep access ways clear from obstructions.

Hazards can occur inside and outside, so wherever your work premises cover, it is important to look out for important hazards.

If, for instance, you work in a builder’s yard or warehouse, you may want to check for loose pavement slabs, broken handrails and report them or fix them as soon as possible. Packaging materials can cause a large number of slips, trips and falls. If your work receives parcels which are bound with strapping make sure you supply your workplace with the correct refuse facilities to dispose of such items.

Staff carrying a large box or other item, in particular, may not see plastic strapping discarded on the floor and are likely to slip on it.

Falls are usually accidents which occur from a height such as down the stairs or off a ladder. Using chairs, tables or other unsuitable items to help reach something should be discouraged by employers at all times. When faced with potentially dangerous situations you should assess the risk involved and use common sense.

Remember, as an employer it is you who can control the risk of injury in the workplace. To avoid slips, trips and falls you can consider the layout of your premises, the lighting and flooring used, consider how you would cope with weather, spills and drainage, supply the right machinery and equipment and provide staff training and signage.

Maintaining health and safety in the workplace is your legal obligation as an employer.

There are many disciplinary actions which can take place if you do not prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace which will destroy even the largest of companies. So make sure you check your policies, procedures and training to keep health and safety up-to-date in the workplace.

The Interactive Health and Safety Company (iHASCO) has been providing you with training programmes for various sectors including education since 1993. The truly interactive training programmes including a session on preventing slips, trips and falls, are simple to use, low priced and allows your business to fulfill health and safety requirements without too much hassle.

Slips, trips and falls