HSE states prevention ‘is key’ to avoiding slips and trips
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released a report on how land owners can reduce public liability costs.
The executive recently launched its Shattered Lives campaign to highlight the serious consequences that slips and trips can have.
Over a thousand people every month suffer from serious personal injuries as a result of a slip, trip or fall from ground level.
The HSE noted that such accidents can be avoided by sensible and moderated management of risks. Such action may be particularly important because of the current icy weather.
Phil Grace, liability risk manager, said the risk that wet surfaces and icy pathways present needs to be addressed by individuals who manage, own or control land and buildings.
Slips are the most prominent public accident and preventing these incidents from occurring is something that property owners should consider.
Spotting risks
Mr Grace said that slips, trips and falls affect customers, employees and members of the public. Therefore, individuals responsible for their land and buildings should identify the problems that could occur through risk assessments.
Mr Grace said that with the recent snowy weather, it has never been more important for land owners to asses when and where surfaces become dangerous. Once the causes are spotted, individuals should then make the efforts to reduce the risk of any slips or trips.
“Those who own the land and property have a responsibility to make it safe. Whilst compensation for slips may not always be a substantial amount but this does not reduce the seriousness of the injury. People cannot control who it is who gets injured.”
Grace furthered: “An 18-year-old will bounce back and recover more quickly than someone who is retired, for example, and has more brittle bones,” Mr Grace said.
Property Owners and public liability
Property owners could find themselves with hefty compensation bills, if they do not have public liability cover.
Should an owner find themselves sued for damages if a customer or other member of the public receives personal injuries whilst on their land, this incident could run into the thousands. Therefore, taking the right precautions is essential.
The retail sector is one industry which is at particular risk from slips and trips. Mopping a floor may also create a hazard, to which Mr Grace advised that paper towels should be used to dry the floor.
However, Mr Grace said that public toilets present the most risk: “Toilets present a significant risk of slips because people wash their hands and then look around for a towel. As they are doing this, water may drip on to the floor.”
Mr Grace says that such accidents tend to be the most common cause of large losses in the public liability arena, but reiterates that many of the incidents may be masked by being logged under a different risk recording.
Updated on 2/9/2009