Slips, Trips and Falls Prevention Training

In line with the stipulations of the broader Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, that calls for adequate training and provisions for the health and safety of all employees, this kind of training ensures employers are fulfilling their duty to protect staff from avoidable accidents:

Safety in the Workplace

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has stated that Statistics show slipping and tripping to be the single most common cause of major injury in UK workplaces and they are often the initiators of accidents attributed to other causes, such as some machinery accidents, scalding and falls from height.

Important Slips, Trips and Falls Statistics: 

The following slip trip and falls stat is from HSE

Slip trips and falls made up 30% of 61,713 Employee non-fatal injuries reported by employers in 2021/22 (RIDDOR)

Why is it important to prevent slips and falls?

This shows that slips trips and falls training is important as it can result in substantial time off work. The more time off work the more money you lose. Also if the employee didn’t receive adequate training they may have the right to a liability claim, showing why it is important to give staff slip and fall training to all employees.

Having employees able to carry out a slips and trips risk assessment and able to identify potential hazards will keep your business safe from any penalties or consequences.

What does IOSH-accredited Slips Trips and Falls Training mean?

To become IOSH-approved, individuals or training providers need to undergo a certification process by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The specific certification required is called "IOSH Course Approval."

The process typically involves meeting certain criteria and guidelines set by IOSH This approval signifies that the course meets the standards set by IOSH and is recognized as a reliable and reputable training program in the field of occupational safety and health.

Case studies of Slips Trips and Falls

The following case studies are followed by NHS trusts to show examples of of how they have mitigated the risks from trips and falls. 

Adequate Footwear - An NHS trust decided to provide slip-resistant footwear for staff carrying out risks assessments in their kitchens. The footwear was chosen after extensive trailing. This saw slip and falls incidents reduce in the kitchen. The NHS trust used to see 4-5 slipping incidents a year but has since eradicated this. 

Cleaning - Managing wet floors and spillages - Health and safety managers at an NHS Trust identified an issue with spillage on their smooth vinyl floors. This saw ‘spill stations’ become introduced in the hospital and even a spills/slips awareness day was introduced to stress the importance of slips and falls prevention.