Nationally 1 slip or trip accident is reported every 3 minutes!
Bad housekeeping causes trip injury
A convenience store was prosecuted in January 2002 following a tripping accident to a customer in September 2000. The customer tripped over newspaper plastic binding (used to hold the newspapers together), causing an injury to her hip. She was unable to work for 5 months.
The management of the store had previously been warned about housekeeping issues and were in fact served an Improvement Notice. The company were fined over £4,500 in the Magistrates Court. Neil Williamson, Senior Environmental Health Officer said,
"Employers must recognize the seriousness of slips trips and falls and take positive steps to prevent these type of accidents. A little time invested now can prevent staff injury and lost working time and avoid the potential costs of legal action. The measures required need not be expensive or require major alterations and the enclosed pack provides information to help businesses get started"
Raised plinths cause trips at electrical retailer
A major electrical retailer has been fined for two tripping accidents that occurred in one of their stores.
In Summer 2002 a member of the public tripped over one of 21 unmarked plinths and fractured their arm. The plinths are a serious tripping hazard as they are covered in a similar carpet to the rest of the floor, which makes them difficult to distinguish especially as the attention of pedestrians is intentionally distracted by the goods on display.
An improvement notice was served on this company for all raised areas to be clearly identified. An extension was granted due to a refurbishment of the store, yet later in the year further inspection still identified tripping hazards within the store.
In early 2003 there was a further accident involving a trip caused by one of these plinths. Legal proceedings were instigated by the Local Authority Inspector and as a result the group were fined £9000 plus prosecution costs.
For advice on health and safety in your workplace contact 01483 444371.