Slips in the WORKPLACE
Taking slips seriously cross Europe, slips in the workplace are a real concern.
A It’s not just sprains and bruises. Slips all too frequently result in bone fractures or internal
injuries of one sort or another. In the most extreme cases, slips can result in fatalities. Slipping is especially dangerous if the individual falls onto a sharp or moving object, falls from height or comes into contact with hot surfaces, or chemicals.
What are the causes? Contaminants on floor surfaces are very often the culprit. This can be water, ice, oil, grease, chemical spillage, etc.
What can be done?
Good house-keeping is essential and educating employees about risks is imperative. Ensuring that floors are regularly cleaned and maintained, so they are free of contaminants should help to reduce the risk of slipping significantly. There should be no trailing cables either. Floor safety should be evaluated frequently, with regular risk assessments. The Health & Safety Executive provides useful guidance for risk assessments and also offers a Slips Assessment Tool (SAT). Carefully consider any risks. Initiating preventative measures, such as the installation of anti-slip matting, flooring or coating can dramatically improve safety underfoot. Ensure the area is well lit.
Which sectors have the highest risks?
Healthcare & Social Care; Education; Food Retail; Food & Drink Manufacture; Catering & Hospitality; Manufacturing (General); Building & Plant Maintenance; Construction.
It is not just spilt liquids that make floor
surfaces dangerous. Swarf, powders and other dry debris can act like marbles on a floor surface. Uneven and poorly maintained floor surfaces can also cause both slips and trips.
DID YOU
KNOW THAT?
2013/2014 slips and trips were the most common cause of major/specified injuries in employees in Great Britain.
According to HSE statistics for 2013-2014, an estimated 1.5 million working days were lost in the UK as a result of slips, trips and falls.
Slips, trips and falls were responsible for more than half (57%) of all major/ specified injuries and almost three in ten (29%) over seven-day injuries.
The human health & social care sector reported the most major/specified slips and trips. Other sectors reporting more than 2000 ‘over-seven-day’ slip, trip or fall injuries were transport and storage, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and education.
Source: HSE Slips & Trips and falls from height in Great Britain, 2014 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142
