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Slips, Trips and Falls

Every year hundreds of people are injured by slipping, tripping or falling. Many are left with painful injuries. Slip, trip and fall accidents account for about 1 in 5 of all accidents reported to the HSA and are the second highest cause of reported accidents.

Many premises visited by HSA Inspectors had not carried out a slip, trip and fall risk assessment. Most premises visited by HSA Inspectors merited the need for slip resistant footwear.

Slips, trips and falls are preventable and everybody has a role to play. The Get a grip (440Kb) short guide will help you to prevent slips, trips and falls in your workplace.

"Get a grip" has the answers

Get a grip (440Kb) provides practical, easy-to-implement safeguards. It has three pages of practical advice and a simple checklist to allow any-sized business to tackle slips and trips. Download Get a grip (440Kb) here for free.

Slips, trips and falls are serious

They account for 21% of all notified 4+day injuries (2010).
25% of injured people were unable to work for over a month (2010).
They were the major cause (44%) of workplace accidents reviewed by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (2009).

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work say “Slips, trips and falls are the largest cause of accidents in all sectors from heavy manufacturing through to office work. In the Member States they have been identified as the main causes of accidents that result in more than 3 days absence from work. Accident risks are higher for those employed in Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's), particularly those in enterprises with less than 50 employees. Use of simple control measures can reduce the risk of injury from slips and trips.” (htttp://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/factsheets/14/view)

Winter Weather Safeguards

The Government Be Winter-Ready website provides information on preparing for winter weather. It has a range of useful advice including a Be Winter-Ready Booklet, with helpful practical advice like “The Office of the Attorney General has advised that liability does not arise when snow is cleared from footpaths in a safe manner.”

The Be Winter-Ready website has specific information for