According to the HSE a third of all major injuries reported each year are caused as a result of a slip or trip, which represents the single most common cause of injuries at work.

These cost employers over £300 million a year in lost production and other costs and can result in serious injuries to employees.

Slips and trips are the most common cause of non-fatal major injuries in both manufacturing and service industries and account for over half of all reported injuries to members of the public.

Under health and safety legislation your employer has a general duty of care, which includes addressing this type of hazard and also a strong commercial incentive to adopt effective measures. Actions brought as a result of an injury can be extremely damaging to business, especially where the public are involved. Insurance covers only a small proportion of the costs.

Effective solutions are often simple, cheap and lead to other benefits.

What the law says

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) requires employers to ensure the health and safety of all employees and anyone who may be affected by their work. This includes taking steps to control slip and trip risks.

The HSWA also places a responsibility on employees not to endanger themselves or others and to use any safety equipment provided.

Manufacturers and suppliers have a duty to ensure that their products are safe. Adequate information about appropriate use must also be provided.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992

These build on the HSWA and include duties on employers to assess risks (including slip and trip risks) and where necessary take action to safeguard health and safety.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

Require floors at the workplace to be suitable, in good condition and free from obstructions. People must be able to move around safely.

Managing health and safety

A good management system will help your employer to identify problem areas, decide what to do, act on decisions made and check that the steps taken have been effective. A good system should involve:

Planning: Identification of the key areas of risk and the set goals for improvement. An employer needs to carefully select equipment and work practices which prevent or contain slip and trip hazards. This helps to remove or minimise risks.

Organisation: Remember that the HSE believe it to be good practice for employers to ensure that staff are involved and committed to reducing risks. They urge that an employer should give people responsibilities (e.g. supervisors) to ensure that areas of the workplace are kept safe and record is kept of who is responsible for which arrangements with these details made clear to everyone. But be aware that this may raise the issue of employees training needs if extra responsibilities are adopted. Also, remember that employers have a legal duty to consult safety reps and if your employer proposes, for example, a new or revised strategy for any workplace practice that has health and safety implications you have the right to meaningful consultation.

Control:Your employer has an obligation to check to ensure that working practices and processes are being carried out properly and to keep a record of cleaning, maintenance work etc and encourage good health and safety.

Monitor and review: Company policies must re-examine their approach in the light of experience. To do this a company should look at accident investigation and inspection reports. Do they show any improvement? The HSE suggest that an employer talks to safety representatives about slip and trip risks.

Examine slip and trip risks

All employers have to assess the risks to employees and others who may be affected by their work. This helps to find out what needs to be done to satisfy the law. HSE recommend a five step approach to risk assessment, and slip and trip risks should be among the risks examined. The HSE suggest that employer should adopt the following approach:

Step 1: Look for slip and trip hazards around the workplace, such as uneven floors, trailing cables, areas that are sometimes slippery due to spillages (include outdoor areas).

Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how. Who comes into the workplace? Are they at risk?

Step 3: Consider the risks. Are the precautions already taken enough to deal with the risks?

Step 4: Record your findings if you have five or more employees.

Step 5: Regularly review the assessment. If any significant changes take place, make sure that precautions are still adequate to deal with the risks.

An employer must remember to consider employees who work away from the workplace and to look at the hazards and risks that they may come across so that proper training and equipment can be provided.

Good working practice

Employers are urged to get conditions right from the start, it will make dealing with slip and trip risks easier. They should choose only suitable floor surfaces, ensure lighting levels are sufficient, properly plan pedestrian and traffic routes and avoid overcrowding.

Cleaning and maintenance

An employer needs to train workers in the correct use of any safety and cleaning equipment provided.

Cleaning methods and equipment must be suitable for the type of surface being treated. An employer may need to get advice on the appropriate method of treatment, e.g. from the manufacturer or supplier. An employer needs to be careful not to create additional slip or trip hazards while cleaning and maintenance work is being done.

An employer must conduct all necessary maintenance work (they may need to get outside help or guidance). An employer should have a programme for inspection, testing, adjustment and cleaning at suitable intervals and maintain records so that the system can be checked.

Companies should ensure that the following areas are adequately addressed:

Lighting should enable people to see obstructions, potentially slippery areas etc, so they can work safely. Replace, repair or clean lights before levels become too low for safe work.

Floors need to be checked for loose finishes, holes and cracks, worn rugs and mats, etc. Take care in the choice of floor if it is likely to become wet or dusty due to work processes.

Obstructions and objects left lying around can easily go unnoticed and cause a trip. Try to keep work areas tidy and if obstructions can�t be removed, warn people using signs or barriers.

Footwear can play an important part in preventing slips and trips. Employers need to provide footwear if it is necessary to protect the safety of workers.

RMT Policy

Reps must remember that one of their functions is to represent their constituents on health and safety matters that affect them. This does not mean that reps carry out duties that are in any way a substitute for an employer fulfilling his legal responsibilities.

Reps can assist an employer in meeting these obligations by notifying an employer of any problems that the rep or their constituents identifies and checking that an employers systems conforms, as a minimum to these guidelines.

The HSE state that the information this brief is based upon constitutes examples of "good practice which [is] not compulsory but which [an employer] may find helpful in considering what [needs to be done]". If necessary, reps should bring this information to an employers attention and check what remedial action results.