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Employers need to do all they can to make safety a priority in the workplace. Your employees have the right to feel safe from slips, trips and falls when on your premises. It is your duty to eliminate hazards and harmful materials which could cause harm to staff.

An accident from a slip, trip or fall can leave the injured party in lots of pain and will ultimately cost your business money. Avoid excessive staff sickness by installing the correct health and safety procedures, equipment and signs to ensure you are complying with the law.

Most slips are caused by spillages or wet flooring, which are easily avoided by keeping the workplace clean and safe. 95% of major slips result in one or more broken bones, yet it is simple and cheap to carry out the necessary controls to avoid slips. Prevention techniques and controls include prevention of spillages, proper cleaning regimes, ensuring proper footwear, design of the workplace and activities, maintenance of the workplace and effective training and supervision.

The most common causes of slips are usually wet surfaces. Injuries caused by wet surfaces from rain or spillages can be easily avoided by cleaning and using wet floor warning signs.

Employees should also be encouraged to wear the correct footwear whilst onsite. Trips occur when your foot strikes an object and you lose your balance. These are often caused by obtruding objects and so it is important to keep access ways clear from obstructions.

If, for instance, you work in a builder’s yard or warehouse, you may want to check for loose pavement slabs, broken handrails and report them or fix them as soon as possible. If your work receives parcels which are bound with strapping make sure you supply your workplace with the correct refuse facilities to dispose of such items.

If the strapping was discarded on the floor and an employee was to walk past it whilst carrying a box or parcel they may not be able to clearly see the floor beneath them and this could be fatal.

Falls are usually accidents which occur from a height such as down the stairs or off a ladder. Make sure you discourage staff from using chairs or tables to reach high objects. When faced with potentially dangerous situations you should assess the risk involved and use common sense.

Employers have the power to avoid slips, trips and falls and other accidents in the workplace. To avoid slips, trips and falls you can consider the layout of your premises, the lighting and flooring used, consider how you would cope with weather, spills and drainage, supply the right machinery and equipment and provide staff training and signage.

As a requirement of the law for all businesses it is an essential tool in your day-to-day running of the company that you keep everyone onsite safe.

There are many disciplinary actions which can take place if you do not prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace which will destroy even the largest of companies. Checking your policies, procedures and staff training must be done regularly to maintain a safe workplace.

The Interactive Health and Safety Company (iHASCO) has been providing you with training programmes for various sectors including education since 1993. The truly interactive training programmes including a session on preventing slips, trips and falls, are simple to use, low priced and allows your business to fulfill health and safety requirements without too much hassle.

Health and safety training by iHASCO