Norwich Union highlights the dangers of slips, trips and falls

Citation

(2008), "Norwich Union highlights the dangers of slips, trips and falls", Structural Survey, Vol. 26 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2008.11026dab.004

Norwich Union highlights the dangers of slips, trips and falls

Article Type: Newsbriefs From: Structural Survey, Volume 26, Issue 4

Keywords: Accidents, Risk, Work-place

Norwich Union is warning that 38 per cent of all major accidents involve slips, trips and falls, amounting to nearly 11,000 serious injuries in the workplace every year. To coincide with the HSE’s latest campaign, “Shattered Lives,” Phil Grace, liability risk manager for Norwich Union, says that by taking a few simple steps, businesses can help to reduce these incidents, which can often be debilitating and permanent. And as part of Norwich Union’s “Simply Safety” campaign, a downloadable guide is available at www.nurs.co.uk advising trades on how to reduce slips, trips and falls in the workplace. “By paying attention to equipment used in the workplace, monitoring behaviour and the environment, serious incidents can be avoided,” says Grace. According to Grace, flooring has a significant impact on the risk of slipping. “The floor surface should be suitable for the type of work being carried out. Non-slip surfaces can be installed in the first instance, when buildings are being constructed, or added during upgrades or renovations. The HSE reports that 50 per cent of all trips are caused by bad housekeeping. Grace advises that keeping walkways free from tools, equipment and other similar objects would eliminate a large number of accidents.