SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS


GET A GRIP Managing your site and securing it against staff and visitors suffering accidents


requires vigilance, strong processes and the right flooring materials. Here, Gripclad looks at key considerations for reducing slips, trips and falls.


The dangers of slips and trips continue to be omnipresent across all sectors. In 2017, 609,000 injuries occurred at work according to the Labour Force Survey. Of those, the majority were as a result of a slip, trip or fall. The cost to businesses is over £14bn a year and 31.2m working days lost. While the irony is that slip and trip accidents are some of the most easily avoided accidents.


INSPECTIONS Undertaking regular inspections of your site will ensure that any defects or hazards are identified and addressed. Once you've identified the risks on your site, formulate a strategy to help visitors and employees avoid injury for each risk.


By breaking the risks down as part of a risk assessment, you are able to see a clear and logical list of all steps you must take to avoid harm. Hazards can appear in even the most unlikely places, so a thorough risk assessment is a must.


DON'T BE AFRAID TO POINT


OUT THE HAZARDS You should clearly mark all potentially dangerous areas with signage. This keeps hazards that might go unnoticed in the front of people's minds. People are more aware of where they put their feet when they see a 'Watch Your Step' sign.


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Signs and labels can also be used to communicate ongoing health and safety reminders and changes. This could be either a reminder to wear the appropriate footwear to avoid slips and falls, or it could be a way of conveying the rationale behind changes in the business. When stakeholders feel informed and in the loop about health and safety, this will help to further generate a shared health and safety culture.


FLOORING If your site is largely outdoors, you should consider a material that is weather resistant and remains slip resistant even when wet. Many materials may be perfectly safe when first laid, but over time these can degrade and become hazards. This is where regular risk assessments are very useful; they allow you to monitor gradual change to your site.


Dangerous locations, such as roof walkways and catwalks on industrial sites often require a lightweight, yet robust solution to allow people to access certain areas without collapsing.


If your site is largely internal, you should make sure your flooring is fit for purpose. Areas where different flooring types meet should be highlighted as a tripping hazard, so use threshold bars to create a smooth transition. Once you've installed


your flooring, be mindful of regular inspections. Some flooring, such as stone or wood can be easily damaged and create hazards at any time.


ENTRANCES High foot traffic areas like entrance ways that are fitted with anti-slip panels or pads reduce the risk of a slip or trip. At high traffic areas, it is important to use a hard-wearing solution in order to remain cost effective.


Anti-slip panels manufactured from glass reinforced plastic, together with an aluminium oxide diamond hard grit, you can be sure of safety underfoot. They can be screwed, bolted or bonded onto a variety of surfaces including wood, concrete, steel, chequer plate and open gratings. After completing a full risk assessment, you'll know exactly what measures you need to take to reduce accidents in hazardous or high traffic areas.


LIGHTING Avoiding hazards is easy when you can see them. That's why you should be taking into account what's hanging from your ceiling as much as what's lurking on the floor. Adequate lighting in indoor corridors, stairwells and windowless areas will help keep hazards to a minimum. Outdoors, lights along walkways allow people to watch out for hazards, as well as promoting security at night time.


gripclad.co.uk www.tomorrowshs.com


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