SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS POLICY-BASED TRAINING
Ridwaan Omar, a Technical Member of IOSH and a partner specialising in health and safety at Forbes Solicitors, looks at how the risks of same level slips, trips or falls can be mitigated through the creation and application of specific health and safety procedures.
THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS
Slips, trips or falls on same level surfaces and walkways pose a major risk in workplaces. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) data shows this type of hazard was the most common kind of accident in 2023/24, causing 31% of non-fatal injuries.
The most common factors contributing to same level slips, trips and falls, include contamination, human factors, environment, cleaning methodology, suitability of flooring and adequacy of footwear. This can lead to common accidents and injuries such as fractures, lacerations, dislocations and sprains.
Injuries can cause lost working days and impact healthcare costs, insurance premiums, employee concerns and reputational damage. There’s also a risk of staff accidents leading to liability for employers, which can become even more complex when slips, trips or falls involve visitors or members of the public. These risks can be mitigated through the creation and application of specific health and safety policies and procedures.
Developing a robust policy requires a practical assessment of real and relevant risks, providing an excellent foundation for staff training and development.
A BLUEPRINT FOR TRAINING A good starting point for creating policies that address same level slips, trips or falls, is to clarify an employer’s legal obligations. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it’s the duty of every employer to ensure, ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees. Additionally, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, requires all floors and traffic routes to be suitable, in good condition, and free from obstructions. Employers should also be mindful that the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 places a duty on occupiers to ensure that lawful visitors are reasonably safe when using premises for permitted purposes.
Essentially, the law and courts expect people in control of workplaces to demonstrate that reasonable measures have been taken to avoid injuries caused by slips, trips or falls. Undertaking thorough risk assessments can help employers to demonstrate how they fulfil this legal duty of care, with practices and procedures recorded in a policy that acts as a blueprint for staff. It can be used to help ensure workers receive adequate information, instruction and training of foreseeable hazards and the control measures in place to minimise risk.
POLICIES IN PRACTICE A policy ultimately pinpoints the knowledge and actions required of staff to practically minimise slips, trips and falls. A good example of this is a ‘clean as you go policy’, which we’ve worked on developing with a range of organisations. Part of this policy requires employees not to walk past and disregard a potential slip, trip or fall
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hazard. If they see a spilt drink on a floor, they have a duty to take action that eliminates or minimises risk. Policy- based training makes staff aware of this responsibility and provides practical advice about what action they can take, whether that’s reporting a hazard, knowing where to get signage that alerts others to the risk, or being able to access and use cleaning equipment.
Seasonal-specific policies are another good example of utilising risk assessments and policies that prevent slips, trips or falls. A winter maintenance policy will identify and evaluate workplace risks caused by changes in weather conditions, providing a basis for staff training ahead of the autumn or winter months. Training may show staff how to inspect walkways for ice or how and when to take preventative measures, such as gritting paths if temperatures are forecast to drop below a specified level. We’ve recently successfully defended a claim against a company, which involved a slip on ice outside the workplace. Demonstrating that staff were trained on policies was pivotal to evidencing the company took proactive and reasonable measures to reduce the risk of a slip.
“DEVELOPING A ROBUST POLICY REQUIRES A PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT OF REAL AND RELEVANT RISKS, PROVIDING AN EXCELLENT FOUNDATION FOR STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT.”
It’s not unusual for health and safety policies to be viewed solely as a compliance tool. This is understandable, as formalised documentation can demonstrate an understanding of legislative requirements. However, polices can deliver many more benefits, including effective guidance for staff training and development programmes that help to reduce slips, trips and falls.
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