Slips and trips are the most common cause of major injuries at work and can also be the causes for a range of other accident types such as falls from height. Most slips occur in wet or contaminated conditions. Most trips are due to poor housekeeping. Solutions to these are often simple and cost effective so a suitable risk assessment should be carried out to identify the necessary measures needed to be taken and put into place. Such an assessment should include:
Prevention of contamination and good housekeeping
Management of spillages and cleaning regimes
Choice of suitable footwear
Maintenance of plant and the work environment
Specification of appropriate flooring
Effective training and supervision
Continuance of regular risk assessments
Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injury and all industry sectors are exposed to the risks presented by this hazard although the levels of incidences obviously varies considerably. These events arise usually due to poor management control rather than equipment failure. This can include:
Failure to recognise a problem
Failure to ensure that safe systems of work are followed
Failure to provide safe systems of work
Inadequate information, training, instructions or supervision
Failure to use appropriate equipment
Failure to provide safe plant/equipment
It is therefore important for regular risk assessments to take place to ensure that accidents from slips, trips and falls can be avoided wherever possible by placing measures to manage high risk areas effectively.
If you have any concerns regarding this or any other area of your insurance cover, or if you would like a quotation, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 542 0672 or email us at sales@neilwillies.co.uk for further advice and information.