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UK News - Breaking news in the field of health and safety
PREVENTING SLIP AND TRIP INCIDENTS AT WORK
A seminar run by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in partnership with Bromley and Greenwich councils for medium and large businesses in the two boroughs was held at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre yesterday (7 March), aiming to help them prevent slip and trip incidents.
The seminar, attended by 49 representatives from a range of businesses including supermarkets, factories, NHS Trusts and colleges of higher education, covered topics such as the human and financial cost of slip and trip incidents and employers' responsibilities in terms of legal requirements, risk assessment and management of slips and trips.
Last year there were 269 recorded injuries to employees caused by slipping and tripping incidents at businesses in Greenwich and Bromley. As well as being a major cause of injury, slips and trips can also become a financial burden to small businesses.
Charles Horsefield, Head of Operations of the HSE in London, said:
"We are all at risk from slips and trips. While most slips and trips may be minor, more serious injuries such as broken bones and head injuries can also occur and can lead to complications. Some slip and trip accidents can even result in fatalities as a result of such complications.
"Slips and trips have not always been taken seriously because they may seem inevitable, but they can mostly be prevented or controlled, often easily and at minimal cost."
John Norton-Doyle, health and safety manager at Homebase, which has stores in Greenwich and Bromley, said information at the seminar was particularly useful. He noted:
"We can now make judgement calls on the types of flooring we use and explain it all to our architects, contractors and suppliers."
Notes to Editors
The following table shows injuries to workers in Greenwich and Bromley due to a slip/trip* as reported to all enforcing authorities 2003/04
Injuries
Local Authority Major Over 3 day Total
London Borough of Greenwich 26 126 152
London Borough of Bromley 38 79 117
* Identified as slips on a wet surface, slips on a dry surface, trips over an obstruction, trips on an uneven floor and other slips and trips.
Regional news releases for the Health and Safety Executive can be viewed at
http://www.gnn.gov.uk
