Slips And Trips At The Office

Offices might seem like a safe working environment, but they pose many slip and trip hazards. While these accidents can happen in all kinds of workplaces, there are some hazards that are seen in all offices.

Some of the measures that employers can put in place to manage this risk in the office include:

Good housekeeping

Many slips and trips occur due to poor housekeeping. Trailing cables and cluttered walkways can cause people to trip and can be prevented by encouraging good housekeeping among workers. Computer cables can be taped to the ground or routed around the walls so they do not travel across walkways  and are securely attached to the floor. Any spillages should be cleaned up immediately and steps should be put in place to prevent floors from becoming dirty. Procedures must be established for responsive and routine cleaning.

Unsuitable flooring

Offices can have uneven flooring, with loose, bumpy and fraying carpets and rugs posing slip and trip hazards. These should be repaired when noticed. Some offices also have laminate flooring, or linoleum in kitchens and toilets. People can slip on this flooring when it is wet or if it has not been recently cleaned.

In many low-risk offices it is possible to manage the safety of workers in-house, and health and safety consultants are not usually required. Offices should also have a dedicated first aider who has completed relevant training courses. It is the duty of employers to ensure the safety of their workforce and those who fail in this regard could find themselves dealing with accident at work compensation claims.

If you have suffered a personal injury in a slip or trip at the office caused by your employer’s negligence towards your health and safety, then you can make a claim for compensation. Fill in our online enquiry form or call us on 08000 430 430 for more information.