Slips and falls are one of the most common causes of non-fatal major injuries, accounting for over half of all reported accidents to members of the public. The significance of slips and trips has been emphasised since the HSE made it one of the “priority areas” in the Revitalising Health and Safety Programme.
Anyone who controls premises regularly visited by members of the public needs to manage the slipping risk and property owners have responsibilities to keep common parts of residential accommodation free from the risk of slipping.
Slips and trips can result in serious injuries and may lead to large compensation awards. Effective solutions are often simple, cheap and easy to implement.
Those in control of premises have duties under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984. This states (s2) that the occupier has a “common law duty of care” and then goes on to define that as: “A duty to take such care as in the circumstances of the case is reasonable to see that the visitor will be reasonably safe in using the premises for the purposes for which he is invited or permitted by the occupier to be there.”
This clearly extends to the control of slips and trip hazards.
What Causes People To Slip or Trip?
Both slips and trips result from some unintended or unexpected change in the contact between the feet and the ground or walking surface.
Research by the HSE has established that all of the following can contribute to a slip or trip:
Not all of these are able to be controlled or influenced. Many of those in control of property will not have the opportunity to specify what flooring is installed but can try to minimise contamination and ensure that cleaning procedures are sufficient and suitably frequent to reduce the risk of slipping.
This shows that good housekeeping, the quality and condition of the surfaces and an appropriate pace of walking are critical for preventing fall accidents. Some of these are not under the control of a property owner; however, simple strategies can be put in place to cope with other aspects.
A risk assessment should be undertaken to identify possible slip and trip hazards. The HSE’s Slip Assessment tool provides invaluable guidance when carrying out an assessment. The following questions should help determine if there is a hazard:
The assessment itself should:
For new surfaces:
For existing surfaces:
The slip resistance of flooring can be significantly reduced by spillages or ingress of water e.g. rain, ice or snow. Correct cleaning at frequent intervals is essential.
In many environments, contamination of the flooring can lead to a long term reduction in quality and increase the risk of slipping specifically. The treading in of fat, oil or simple dirt and dust can reduce the slip resistance of the floor surface leading to an increased risk.
Suitable cleaning procedures should be established. Routine cleaning may deal with the day to day spillages etc but “deep cleaning”, using strong cleaning agents and mechanical equipment, may be required at suitable intervals.
The selection and use of proper footwear can also prove critical but this is not under the control of a property owner.
This aspect is not under the control of a property owner but where possible access routes should be planned to avoid areas where slips or trips are expected.
Good housekeeping is the first and most important method of preventing falls due to slips and trips. It includes:
Without good housekeeping practices, any other preventative measures such as the installation of sophisticated flooring, will never be fully effective.
The Magic “Inch”
Property owners often ask about the extent to which they might be held liable for an accident that results from a trip on an uneven surface. What is the “height” below which a change in level, hole or depression will not render them liable?
The answer is that there is no “safe” limit’ no hard and fast rule. Every claim for compensation will be decided on its own merits and the particular circumstances that relate to the accident. For example, a flooring defect of one inch may not generate liability if it occurred just prior to the accident and there was no possibility of the property owner detecting it and taking corrective action in time to prevent the fall. However, a small tripping hazard of lesser size may result in a liability if it had been present for an extended period, if its existence was known and it was in a location where people walked regularly.
If you have a responsibility for premises:
