Slips and Trips

8th February 2023

Advice for local SMEs to combat slips and trips in the workplace

Local broker advice to reduce slips and trips – a common cause of major injuries at work 

Chartered insurance broker IFM based in Sheffield is urging local businesses to take preventative measures against slips and trips taking place in the workplace.

Slips and trips remains a common cause of injury at work. They cause many major injuries and can also lead to other types of serious accidents, for example falls from height, slips from wet surfaces, uneven floors or unmanaged cables. Injuries from slips and trips can range from minor to life changing.

Jamie Harvey, a director at IFM Insurance Brokers, said: “While a slip or trip incident may appear trivial, the claims that result can be considerable. However, firms can help mitigate the risk by undertaking a simple risk assessment. This means taking sensible measures to control the risks in your workplace, for example using doormats to stop rainwater being tracked in and making the floor slippery.” 

IFM Top Tips

• Introduce a workplace inspection regime to ensure slips and trips hazards are identified and remedied quickly.
• Carry out weekly workplace inspections on slip and trip hazards and train the person who carries out the inspection on what standard to accept.
• Train staff on slip and trip prevention and train cleaning staff on suitable cleaning techniques. Keep detailed records of these training sessions.  
• Ensure that there are records made each time the cleaning process takes place.
• Get to the scene of an accident quickly, take photographs, take statements and keep a note of all persons who witnessed the slip or trip incident and also those colleagues of the claimant who were not working in the area at the time of the claim.