Making a Slips and Trips Work Accident Claim

Slips and trips are quite common as they can occur at any time and at any place. They are also very common at workplaces. Such accidents usually result in minor injuries or no injuries at all and this is the reason most of the incidents go unreported. However, slips and trips also have the potential to cause serious bodily harm.

So what do you do if you have been hurt as a result of a slip or trip at your place of work? Isn't making a work accident claim a good idea?

You can make a slip and trip claim if you have been injured at the workplace. This is because your employer has a duty to protect you and this also includes protection against slips and trips.

Slips and trips are very much preventable by taking some common sense actions. However, since protecting your health and safety at work is the responsibility of your employer, it is essential that your employer undertakes the following to prevent the risk of slipping and tripping.

Your employer must carry out risk assessments to identify any slipping or tripping hazards within the premises. Hazards which need to be identified include damaged carpets, leaks from plumbing systems, tanks or pipes, trailing wires, etc. Once potential hazards are identified, your employer must take the steps to minimise the risks. These steps can include providing anti slip mats, maintaining steps and stairs, providing adequate lighting near stairways, etc.

Your employer must also monitor adverse weather conditions so that frozen surfaces and ice and snow can be treated to prevent workers from slipping. In addition, potholes must also be identified and repaired.

As an employee, you must also take care of your safety whilst at work. You must remember that the actions you take could have an effect on others and therefore you must take precautions to prevent yourself and others from getting involved in slips and trips accidents. For example, if you spill some kind of liquid on the floor, you must get it cleaned up before you or someone else slips on it and sustains injuries.

However, if something has been spilled on the floor and it has not been cleaned despite notifying the management numerous times, then your employer can be held responsible if someone slips and gets hurt.