Shattered Lives
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council together with the Health and Safety Executive are running a new campaign in 2008 on slips, trips and falls in the workplace
More than 1,000 workers a month suffer a serious injury following a slip, trip or fall. The campaign is aimed at those most at risk including kitchen managers and chefs, food retail staff, area and store managers and trades people.
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the risks and help those involved to take simple action that will prevent slips, trips and falls. Our officers will be visiting local businesses to offer advice on how to make your workplace safer.
Slips and trips are the most common cause of major injuries at work. Around 90% of these are broken bones. The costs to industry are substantial (over £500 million per year) and there is incalculable human cost and suffering to those injured. Floor cleaning is significant in causing slip and trip accidents, both to cleaning staff and others.
Legal actions following an injury can be extremely damaging to business, especially where the public is involved. Insurance only covers a small part of the cost. On the other hand, effective solutions are often simple, inexpensive and can lead to other benefits.
Stop slips in kitchens
Spills:
- clean them
- dry them
- don’t leave them.
Top tips for employers
stop spillages - maintain equipment to prevent leaks, fit drip trays, supply lids and review the way people work
carry out effective floor cleaning - Check you have the right system in place, carry it out at the right time, in the right way
get the most from your team - Inform them of procedures which stop slips, provide training and good supervision
choose an appropriate floor - When changing your kitchen floor, choose one that can cope with water and grease and still be non-slip.
Top tips for your team
keep food off the floor - do not overfill containers, don’t push food on the floor, use lids, use trays
deal with spillages - clean them up, then dry the floor, don’t leave them
floor cleaning - do not cut corners, follow instructions, use the right equipment and leave floors dry
keep on your feet - wear shoes with good grip, that will stay firmly on your feet and keep the soles clean.
To stop slips in kitchens - see it, sort it
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH
01737 276000
customer.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
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