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Slips, trips and falls 'can be prevented'

08 August 2011

There are precautions that can be taken by organizations to cut injury levels and reduce the risk of civil claims, one specialist has advised.

Jill Joyce, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Senior Policy and Technical Adviser, noted that a third of all major injuries caused in workplaces in the UK are the result of "slips, trips and falls", warned.

With such incidents costing business an estimated £520 million a year, many companies may wish to enhance standards in their workplaces to prevent them, with Ms Joyce noting there are precautions that can be taken to cut injury levels and reduce the risk of civil claims.

She advocated slip-resistant flooring, markings where surfaces or levels change and good lighting.

Ms Joyce explained that figures produced with the Health and Safety Executive suggested: "Twenty per cent of injuries lasting for more than three days are also down to slips, trips and falls."

The IOSH has recently called for the Government to merge legislation relating to health and safety in the UK rather than scrapping regulations entirely.

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