Slips, trips and falls are the most significant cause of injuries in the workplace. In many cases, slipping or tripping leads to more serious consequences, such as falling from height, collision with moving plant or burns and scalds from hot liquids.  

The Employer's Duty:

The employer has a duty to ensure the health and safety of employees and any other person in or around the workplace. This requires the provision of safe access and egress, information, and adequate warnings of any risks to health and safety.

Most slipping and tripping accidents are reasonably foreseeable and could have been prevented by implementing simple control measures; for example many are caused by wet floors, which could have been sign-posted or screened off.

Common Causes:

Usually, the causes of slips and trips revolve around poor housekeeping or a lack of care whilst completing a task resulting in a spillage or materials being left lying around.

Good housekeeping requires to be adequately planned, so that regular cleaning becomes part of the everyday operation. 

Further Guidance and Associated Documents follow ...