Slips, Trips and Falls Health & Safety Advice

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1 Slips, Trips and Falls Health & Safety Advice One of the targets the Health and Safety Executive have set this year is to reduce accidents caused by slips, trips and falls, one of the most common causes of accidents in Britain, and therefore the area being targeted for Safety and Health Week this year. Ten facts about slips and trips 1. In 1999/2000 slips and trips in British workplaces accounted for 31% (provisionally 8,680) of all reported major non-fatal injuries to employees. 2. During the same period they accounted for 20% (provisionally 26,236) of over-three-day injuries to employees % of reported slips and trips result in broken or dislocated bones. 4. Well over a million working days are lost each year as a result of slips and trips. 5. The increasing development of a compensation culture and the number of businesses operating on a no win, no fee basis will increase costs to employers. 6. Three people have died in each of the last two years following slips and trips. 7. Wet floors account for 90% of such accidents. 8. The food and drink industry has four times as many slips and trips as other industries. 9. The cost to society could be as much as 763 million with employers have to pick up a bill for 368 million. 10. As the facts show, slips and trips do not usually just result in embarrassment or bruised pride, they can prove very costly slip-ups in many other way. Slip/trip hazards include: spills/splashes of liquid a few drops may drastically reduce slip resistance; inadequate drying of floors after cleaning; ingress of rain into indoor pedestrian areas during wet weather; use of unsuitable flooring types/footwear; poorly maintained/uneven floors; obstructions/objects on the floor; curling edges to doormats/carpets; trailing electric cables across pedestrian thoroughfares; build-up of residues on flooring, eg. grease, animal excreta, leaves, ice, etc; items left across pedestrian thoroughfares by contractors working. These are just a few examples. Risk assessments can be used to identify such hazards and to ensure adequate controls are in place. Quality Customer Services Working with the Community 68 Grove Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4UH Tel: Fax: DX6921 EASTBOURNE Minicom environmentalhealth@eastbourne.gov.uk web site:

2 Good Working Practice to prevent Slips, Trips and Falls Where possible, the aim should be to eliminate risk at source (eg. levelling uneven floor surfaces). The next preferred option is substitution (eg. using an alternative method of floor cleaning), followed by separation (eg. using barriers to keep workers away from wet floors). The final prevention measure is protection (eg. wearing footwear with non-slip soles). The use of personal protective equipment should be a last form of protection after all organisational and technical measures have been exhausted. There are often simple but effective measures that can be taken to reduce or eliminate slip and trip risks. Preventive actions to consider include: Good housekeeping Poor housekeeping and general untidiness are a major cause of slips and trips. Keep the working environment clean and tidy, with floors and access routes kept clear of obstacles. Remove rubbish regularly so it does not build up. Cleaning and maintenance Regular cleaning and maintenance will minimise risks. Rubbish should be removed regularly and work areas kept clear. Cleaning methods and equipment must be suitable for surface being treated. During cleaning and maintenance work, take care not to create new slip and trip hazards. Lighting Ensure good lighting levels, functioning and position of lights to ensure all floor areas are evenly lit and all potential hazards, eg. obstructions and spills can be clearly seen. Lighting levels need to allow safe passage through the premises. Exterior lights may be required as outdoor workplaces must be adequately lit. Flooring Floors should be checked for damage on a regular basis and maintenance carried out when necessary. Potential slip and trip hazards to look for include holes, cracks, and loose carpets and mats. In any location, the floor surface should be suitable for the work carried out, eg. it may need to be resistant to oil and chemicals used in production processes. Coating or chemically treating existing floors can improve their slip-resistant properties. It should be kept clean. Stairways Many accidents occur on stairways. Handrails, slip resistant covers to steps, high visibility and non-slip marking of the front edges of steps, and sufficient lighting can all help in preventing slips and trips on stairs. Other changes of level such as ramps are often difficult to see. They need to be well marked, with appropriate use of safety signs. Spillages Clean up spills immediately using an appropriate cleaning method (chemical treatment may be required). Use warning signs where the floor is wet and arrange alternative routes. What caused the spill to occur - can work methods or workplace be changed to minimise spillages? Obstructions Where possible, obstructions should be removed to prevent trips occurring. If it is not possible to remove an obstruction then suitable barriers and/or warning notices should be used. Trailing cables Place equipment so cables do not cross pedestrian routes. Use cable covers to securely fix cables to surfaces.

3 Footwear Workers need to have footwear that is suitable for their working environment. Take account of the type of job, floor surface, typical floor conditions and the slip-resistant properties of the sole. Outdoor workplaces Outdoor workplaces must be arranged so that risks of slipping and tripping are minimised, eg. through anti-slip measures in icy conditions and suitable footwear. Employers Responsibilities Requirements set in European Directives (such as on workplaces, safety signs, personal protective equipment, and Framework for Safety) that are relevant to the prevention of slips and trips, include: Ensuring that, as far as possible workplaces receive sufficient natural light and are equipped with artificial lighting adequate to protect workers safety and health. Ensuring that workplace floors are fixed, stable and level and have no bumps, holes or slopes. and are not slippery. Providing safety and/or health signs where hazards can not be avoided or adequately reduced by preventive measures. Providing personal protective equipment (eg. protective footwear) appropriate for the risks involved and where they can not be avoided by other means. It should be comfortable and well maintained, and not lead to any increase in other risks. Following a general Framework to manage health and safety, including: assessment and prevent of risks; giving priority to collective measures to eliminate risks; providing information and training; and consulting employees, co-ordination on safety with contractors. The minimum requirements set by Directives have been implemented in national legislation that may include additional requirements. Consulting the workforce is a requirement. Using their knowledge helps to ensure hazards are correctly spotted and workable solutions implemented. Maintaining a healthy and safe working environment is not only a management responsibility. Employees also have duties to co-operate and look after their own and others safety, following instructions in accordance with training given. Everyone should be encouraged to contribute to improving health and safety. The source of the information contained in pages 1 3 is Health and Safety Commission document: Misc The source of the following checklist is Eastbourne Borough Council. The attached checklist can be used as a preliminary aid to identifying hazards.

4 Slips, Trips and Falls Health & Safety Checklist General Yes No 1. Are floors uneven/damaged? 2. Do electric cables trail across pedestrian routes? 3. Is the floor covering damaged and a trip hazard? 4. do rugs/mats/carpets curl at the edges/need fixing to the floor? 5. Are floor surfaces slippery when dry? 6. Are floor surfaces slippery when wet? 7. Do cleaning materials make the floor slippery? 8. Do residues build up on floor surfaces/ground making it slippery? A YES response to any of the above requires risk assessment/remedial measures to be taken if controls are inadequate. Procedures/Working Practices/Workplace 9. Are lighting levels adequate on all traffic or pedestrian routes? 10. Where there are changes in levels, is lighting adequate and the change in level highlighted by, for example, a colour change/hazard tape? 11. Are handrails provided where appropriate, where there are level changes? 12. Do all staircases and steps have handrails where appropriate?

5 13. Are procedures in place to immediately clean up spillages? 14. If greasy liquids are spilled, is a suitable cleaning agent available and used? 15. Are appropriate signs used after floors have been cleaned and an alternative bypass route provided? 16. Are passageways/stairs/escape routes kept clear? 17. Are articles properly stored and put away so they do not cause obstructions? 18. Are safe working procedures adopted when transporting items up or down stairs? 19. Are ladders inspected and maintained? 20. Are damaged ladders taken out of service at once and disposed of? 21. Are safe working procedures adopted when using ladders/ working at height? 22. Are openings in floors fenced off? 23. When workmen/cleaners are working on site, does risk assessment include creation of tripping/slipping hazards? 24. Is provision of appropriate footwear considered in risk assessment in relation to slips, trips and falls? 25. Are risk assessments always done before working at height, and suitable controls in place? 26. In a workplace where flooring can be slippery, do you wear non-slip shoes? A No response to any of the above requires risk assessment/remedial measures to be taken.

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