Slips and trips - Statistics

Statistics show slipping and tripping to be the single most common cause of major injury in UK workplaces:

• almost 11,000 major injuries each year;
• 38% of all major injuries;
• 27,000 over 3 days injuries;
• 24% of all over 3 day injuries.

In LA industries:

• 44% of major injuries;
• 24% of over 3 day injuries.

Slips and trips are often the initiators of accidents attributed to other causes, such as some machinery accidents, scalding and falls from height.

Looking at the industry sectors in more detail, the table below highlights the sectors with the highest number of slip and trip major injuries and the profession within that industry which was most at risk.

Major slip/trip injuries to employees, 2006/07p

SIC	Industry	Major Injuries	Occupations most affected
45	Construction	988	All trades
16-37	Manufacturing (ex food)	1070	Process operatives
15	Food manufacturing	345	Process operatives
75	Public admin	1541	Police, fire service, refuse collection, prisons
85	Health & social care	1220	Care assistants, nurses
52 (ex 52.1)	Retail (exc supermarkets)	373	Sales assistants
52.1	Supermarkets	588	Sales assistants
55	Hospitality	558	Kitchen assistants, chefs, waiting staff
64.1	Post & courier services	394	Postal workers
60.24/63.12	Road transportation & warehousing	554	Storage occupations, HGV drivers
80	Education	648	Cleaners, teachers & assistants

Further information

• More about work accident statistics