Slips, Trips and Falls

Slips and trips are the most common cause of major injuries at work. They occur in almost all workplaces, 95 per cent of major slips result in broken bones and they can also be the initial causes for a range of other accident types.

According to the HSE, on average, slips and trips:

• are 33 per cent of all reported major injuries
• are 20 per cent of injuries of more than three days to employees
• cause two fatalities per year
• are 50 per cent of all reported accidents to members of the public
• cost £512 million to employers per year
• cost £133 million to the health service per year
• cause incalculable human costs

Slips and trips accidents account for the highest number of major injuries and occur across all industry sectors.

In addition, according to the HSE, 23 people died in 2010/12 and 12,000 suffered a major injury as a result of a fall from height, slips or trips in the workplace. Falls from height occur throughout industry.

Links

HSE slips and trips pages http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/index.htm

On-line assessment tool www.hse.gov.uk/slips/sat

HSE Falls From Height web page http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm