The winter season is now officially upon us. Yes, that’s right, time to put an extra pair of socks on, thermal gear under your shirt or skirt and perhaps a furry pair of ear muffs to keep the winter chill at bay. Moving forward, did you know that slips and trips in the workplace are one of the most common non-fatal injuries to employees in the manufacturing and service sectors? They also account for over half of all reported accidents to members of the public.

We at Russell Meers and Gill want to provide employers of all service sectors with a list of perceptual and practical methods to avoid such danger in the workplace and keep you and/or your business well within its legal duty of care.

Let’s quickly run through legislation. As you undoubtedly know, all employers have responsibilities to ensure the safety of their employees, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 etc. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 defines the duty to conduct a risk assessment and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 set out the specific responsibilities in respect of ensuring a safe workplace.

Now let’s get into how to prevent the risk of slipping and tripping in the workplace. Some of these may seem self-explanatory, but for the point of this blog, we hope it helps to maximise hazard perception and minimise risk.

First of all, housekeeping is fundamental. If the workplace surface is old or new, rough or smooth, if there’s a spillage, it is essential to clean this up immediately. Ideally, place a wet floor sign on the designated area to ensure colleagues are aware of the potential hazard. All public areas should be well lit for if a mysterious object does appear, it can be seen from afar. On that note, swiftly report and replace any vexatious flickering lights. Poor lighting in a public area can be a breach of duty of care. Furthermore, all walkways should be kept clear of clutter and cables kept confined under or within a visible protector. For those offering the privilege of a tea and coffee round, the last thing they need to worry about is throwing a tray of piping hot drinks over a fellow colleague. We have placed a useful link for causes and prevention at the bottom of this blog for your convenience.

A key action to take from this is to conduct routine inspections of all walkways and surfaces within the workplace, ensuring they are free from slipping and tripping hazards. A program is also highly recommended to warrant the identification and clean-up of a spill for your records.

It is a requirement by law that any Company employing 5 or more people must have a written Health and Safety Policy. We are able to assist and advise on the writing of your policy and help with the carrying out of risk assessments and documenting them. Failure to comply with this legislation could result in closure of your business and financial ruin. We can help you every step of the way.

Useful links: http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/preventing.htm