Slips and trips at work are one of the most common causes of accidents at work, resulting in 40% of all major injuries in the workplace. 10,000 employees alone were injured in the UK last year from slips and trips at work. Injuries can range from broken bones and fractures to minor cuts and bruises.
The common causes of slips and trips at work:
- Cleaning
- Flooring
- Environment
- Obstacles
- Colleagues
- Footwear
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, is in place to ensure the health and safety of all employees within the workplace.
Under Regulation 2 of the act, an employer has the duty to ‘as is reasonably practicable‘ ensure ‘the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees‘. An employer must ‘provide instruction, and training‘ to all employees that will be working with the workplace, and therefore be fully competent in using it.
An employer is also under a duty maintain the condition of the workplace so that it is ‘safe and without risks to health‘. An employer is also under the duty to ‘as is reasonably practicable‘ have ‘regards to facilities and arrangements for the welfare at work‘. Many employers may like to carry out regular risk assessments and inspections to ensure the workplace is safe and equipment is suitable for use. Most employers like to carry out a risk assessment, in order to manage their health and safety of their staff. A risk assessment is required by law and it needs to be considered:
- How to stop floors being contaminated
- How to use the right cleaning methods
- Consider the flooring and work equipment
- Ensure employees wear the correct footwear
- How to keep up with Housekeeping
- Suitable training and supervision
It is not only the employer that is under a duty, employees are also expected to have a regard for their health and safety when they are at work. Under Regulation 7, every employee is under the duty to ‘take reasonable care‘ of himself whilst at work, and to comply with the relevant health and safety provisions set out by his employer.
You may be able to bring a claim against your employer, if you have had a trip or slip at work that wasn’t your fault. In order to be able to assess your claim properly, medical evidence of your injuries, photographs and CCTV of your slip or trip would be helpful.
Call us today on our free claims helpline – 0800 634 75 75. We are personal injury specialists and will be able to offer you free advice on your slip and trip at work.
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