Slips, trips and falls in the workplace are extremely common. Loose cables, damaged floor surfaces, spillages and poor lighting contribute to thousands of workplace accidents in the UK every year.

Slips, trips and falls in the workplace are typically a consequence of:

• Poor lighting
• Uneven surfaces
• Spillages
• Loose cables
• Unexpected obstacles

Many workplaces think that a sign, warning of a hazard such as a wet or uneven floor, is enough for them to avoid liability. However, if the sign was not prominent or the hazard could have been fixed before the accident, they may remain liable.

How do I prove a slip at work claim?

You may be eligible to make a claim if it can be proven that your fall at work was caused as a direct consequence of your employer failing to adhere to health and safety measures in the workplace. Such as:

• Performing a risk assessment of possible hazards.
• Failure to clean up or appropriately signpost spillages.
• Failure to advise on or provide appropriate footwear.
• Failure to maintain a tidy workplace.

If you have suffered  an injury or a slip or fall injury at work, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

The accident must be reported to your employer, with the details accurately recorded in the accident book. If there is no accident book, write down what happened and give it to your employer. Keep a copy for yourself too.

It is important to also take the names and contact details of any witnesses.

If possible, take photos of the scene of the accident. This can be very helpful if you wish to pursue a claim and your employer doesn’t admit liability.

In order to prevent a slip, trip or fall in the workplace it is important to minimise the risk by:

• Using entrance mats to allow people to dry their feet when entering the building.
• Remove spillages promptly, dry the area and display ‘wet floor’ signage.
• Regularly check for, and fix, loose or broken flooring.
• Ensure walkways, stairs and working spaces are well lit and free of obstacles.
• Ensure that staff are wearing the right footwear, i.e. no backless, strappy or high heeled shoes if this is to cause a hazard.
• Keep the workplace clean and tidy, i.e. keep bags under your desk and desk space free of loose papers which may fall off and cause someone to trip over.