Employee

What the law says

Employees have general duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

They must take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their actions and comply with their employers arrangements for managing health and safety.

If you are an employee or working under someone else's control, the law says you must:

  • inform your employer of any work situation you consider dangerous, or of any shortcoming in their protection arrangements for health and safety
  • use all work items provided by your employer correctly, in accordance with your training and the instructions you received to use them safely

How can you help to prevent slips and trips in your workplace?

  • Report near misses and accidents promptly to your employer
  • If you see slip and trip risks, try to sort them out or inform your employer
  • Help to keep floors clean and dry
  • Clear up spillages straight away
  • If you think of ways of preventing contamination (water, oils, cardboard, waste etc) from getting onto the floor, suggest them to your employer
  • Avoid causing trailing cables
  • Keep place of work clear of obstacles
  • Ask your employer to mark slopes and changes of levels
  • If there isn't adequate lighting, report it
  • Follow all safety advice

Slips and trips resources

For more information on preventing slips and trips, visit the slips and trips resources page.

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2021-05-07