Health & Safety at Work - Slips and Trips
Every year nearly 5 million people in Europe suffer workplace accidents resulting in more than three days absence from their job. Accident risks are higher in small and medium enterprises, particularly those with less than 50 employees.
Often there are simple measures that can be taken to reduce or eliminate common accidents such as slips, trips and falls.
Preventative measures include:
- Good housekeeping - poor standards of cleaning and general untidiness are a major cause of slips, trips and falls at work. Keeping work areas clean and tidy, with floors and access routes clear of obstacles or obstructions is a simple way of reducing these accidents. Rubbish should be regularly removed to a designated area outside the building.
- Lighting - good lighting levels, without glare or shadows, should be provided, particularly on access routes and staircases. External lighting may be necessary to any walkways or staircases used by staff and visitors outside the workplace.
- Flooring - floors should be level and even and be checked regularly for any damage. Loose carpets or mats cause many accidents. Repairs should be made as quickly as possible. Any changes of gradient should be highlighted and slippery surfaces replaced or treated with a non-slip coating.
- Stairways - handrails must be provided to all stairways and they must be securely fixed to the structure of the staircase or adjoining wall. High visibility and non-slip nosings help to prevent slips and trips. A single step or ramp should be clearly marked.
- Spillages - ensure staff know who to report these to so that they can be cleaned up immediately. Make sure proper signs are used when any floors are wet or are in the process of being cleaned.
- Trailing cables - ensure electrical equipment or telephones are placed so that cables do not trail across floors or access routes. Use cable managers, cable ties or floor cable covers to remove tripping hazards.
- Footwear - workers should be provided with footwear that is suitable for the work environment. Factors such as any waste material, dust, etc, produced by the job, the material of the floor surfaces, environmental factors (e.g. water, dust, ice, etc.) and slip resistance of the footwear soles should be taken into account.
|Download a checklist which may aid you in your risk assessment process. It is only an example and indicates some of the main points to be considered in your assessment.
