Slips and trips in building merchants
Main project – Slips, Trips, Falls and Building & Plant maintenance
Aim
To educate trades, who purchase goods at builders merchants, on hazard spotting and prevention of slips, trips and falls at work. To reduce the number of major injury slip and trip accidents happening within builders merchants by raising awareness and improving management of slips and trips. To provide advice on practical control measures and take enforcement action where appropriate.
Justification
Last year 988 construction workers and tradesmen had a slip or trip related major injury at work. Many of those tradesmen were electricians, plumbers, plasterers and carpenters who purchase products from builders merchants and wholesalers. Construction is in the top ten of the poorest performing industry sectors for slips, trips and major injuries. If slips and trips at work are to be reduced and targets met, making improvements in this industry is key.
Audience/industry
As housekeeping issues and spills are the most common cause of slips and trips in builders merchants, focus on these topics when inspecting.
Messages
- General - everyone has a part to play when it comes to stopping slips and trips. Supervisors, managers and business owners need to set up effective systems for preventing slips and trips and ensure staff are informed, trained and following those systems. Staff can make a big difference by adopting a ‘see it, sort it’ mentality.
- Building and plant maintenance - contractors, owners, facilities & maintenance managers can effectively reduce the risk of slips and trips due to maintenance issues in and around buildings and machinery.
- Good order - you can help prevent slips and trips accidents happening to your customers while they are at work.
Activities Required
- General – routine inspections and investigations following complaints or accidents. Bring employers attention to updated guidance ‘Warehousing and storage – a guide to health and safety’
- Building and plant maintenance – continue inspections to companies that manage and procure (minor) building and plant maintenance such as facility management companies and housing associations. Also visit building maintenance contractors and cleaning services who carry out the work.
- Good order – the initiative is now a couple of years old, but support materials are still relevant. Bring managers’ attention to materials.
Timing
All year.
For information
Detailed guidance on inspections:
For more information and resources visit the HSE website
