Health and Safety Executive

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What can I do to prevent slips and trips?

Danger beware of step sign

Everyone in the workplace has a part to play when it comes to preventing slips and trips, from the person who designed the building to the people working inside of it.

Employers

To tackle slips and trips successfully in your workplace you need to; put in place an effective management system, carry out regular risk assessments and make sure you are aware of the relevant laws and regulations.

Read more about what employers can do to prevent slips and trips.

Workers

What can you do to make a difference? Your actions could make the difference between someone getting injured or not. Seen a spillage? Instead of thinking it's someone else's problem, why not clear it up?

Read more about what workers can do to prevent slips and trips.

Architects & designers

Slipping accidents cause many thousands of occupational and public sector injuries every year involving broken bones, pain suffering and financial loss for society. Where better to make that right choice of flooring than at the very beginning of the design process taking a balanced view of cost, durability, aesthetics and safety targeting those areas that get foreseeably wet. Getting it right by design is a giant step forward in reducing slip injuries.

Read more about what architects and designers can do to prevent slips and trips.

Footwear

Selection and use of the most appropriate footwear for the work environment can have a dramatic effect on reducing accidents. If there is still a residual slip risk after slip controls have been put in place, footwear with slip-resistant properties has an important part to play in further reducing the risk.

Read more about how footwear can prevent slips.

Flooring

Employers seeking to procure new flooring must have the right information to enable them to source products which are suitable for preventing slips and trips. It is essential that they can be sure that the product description gives a good indication of how the flooring will perform in its intended use and how it should be cleaned and maintained. Furthermore, manufacturers and suppliers have a legal duty to provide accurate descriptions of their products.

Read more about how flooring can prevent slips.

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2012-11-21