Slips and trips are a common cause of accidents in both public areas and workplaces and winter weather such as frost, rain, and fallen leaves only increase the risk further. Injuries caused by a slip or trip do not only affect the individuals involved, but they also expose your business to losses due to claims made against you, employee absence, and at times, poor press in the news. It is therefore vital to minimise any hazards in your workspace and ensure you have the appropriate processes in place should an incident occur on your premises.
Eliminating hazards in the workplace
To ensure a safe environment for employees, visitors, and contractors, employers should undertake a risk assessment to identify hazards and how to control them. Key hazards to consider include:
- Uneven steps or dips in flooring
- Poor lighting
- Slopes
- Inappropriate clothing/footwear
- Exposed pipes and cables
- Poor housekeeping
- Vulnerable users
There are many ways to reduce these to prevent accidents in the workplace, such as:
- Ensuring flooring is level where possible
- Implementing an inspection and effective cleaning routine
- Have a process whereby spills are identified, reported, and cleaned up immediately
- Make sure lighting is sufficient
- Remove all obstacles in walkways
- Repair potholes in the car park or on footpaths
- Use the correct cleaning method for the floor-type
- Consider signage around the building i.e., putting out wet floor signs when flooring has been cleaned
- Ensure employees wear appropriate footwear
Record it!
It is recommended to store previous risk assessments, inspections, and maintenance information as these can help you understand what works well and what can be improved in the future. These records can also be vital if a slip or trip happens in your workplace, causing an injury that you need to defend a compensation claim for.
We are here to help
Our team work closely with our clients all year round and where requested, they can undertake site visits to help identify and mitigate risks in the workplace. Find out more about our risk management offering here.
Get in touch to arrange an appointment with one of our specialists:
