Slips and trips at work cause thousands of injuries each year, so it's important to learn how to prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace.
We are a claims management company that can help you make a personal injury claim. Call us free on 0800 470 0472
How To Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls in The Workplace
Slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of workplace accidents in the UK and can result in serious injuries to employees and significant costs to businesses. Fortunately, by identifying hazards and taking simple preventative measures, many of these accidents can be avoided.
Employers have a legal duty to provide a safe working environment and minimise risks, but employees also play a crucial role in preventing slips, trips and falls in the workplace.
Table of Contents
How common are slip, trip and fall accidents at work?
Slips, trips and falls are by far the most common types of workplace accidents, causing hundreds of thousands of injuries each year. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), they accounted for 30% of the 680,000 non-fatal injuries reported at work in 2024/25.
This means 204,000 injuries that could have been potentially prevented through proper care and control measures. There are also fatalities attributed to slips, trips and falls from a height, with 31 casualties in 2025/26.
Why is preventing slips, trips and falls important?
Slips and trips can happen in any work environment, from offices and shops to construction sites and hospitals. They can have a devastating impact on both employees and businesses:
- For the employee, they can cause painful injuries, lost income and even long-term disability.
- For businesses, the financial impact is substantial, costing employers approximately £512 million each year in lost production and other related expenses.
The above figures highlight the high frequency and potentially severe impact of these accidents. Taking proactive steps to prevent them benefits everyone in the workplace.
Identify and assess slip and trip hazards regularly.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) places a legal duty on all employers to ensure the health and safety of their employees. This includes taking steps to control and prevent slip, trip and fall hazards in the workplace.
The first step in prevention is to identify and understand the common causes of trips, slips and falls, which can be done by conducting regular risk assessments. The HSE recommends a five-step approach:
- Look around to identify potential hazards in the workplace (such as slippery surfaces, obstructions or trailing cables).
- Consider who might be harmed, how and how likely this is.
- Implement control measures proportionate to the level of risk.
- Record your findings (you can use the risk assessment template provided by the HSE).
- Regularly review and update the assessment.
Prevent accidents by practising good housekeeping.
Maintaining a tidy and organised environment is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to prevent workplace injuries. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 state the duties of employers in this regard:
- Keep walkways clear of clutter and obstructions.
- Clean up spills of liquid, oil, or other hazards immediately.
- Use suitable cleaning agents for greasy spills.
- Restrict access to wet or drying floors.
- Store tools, equipment and substances properly.
- Remove dirt, trade waste and refuse regularly.
- Ensure there are no trailing cords or cables that could cause tripping hazards.
- Secure mats, carpets and rugs that do not stay flat.
- Store waste in appropriate containers and dispose of it properly.
Improve flooring and workplace design to prevent slips, trips and falls.
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers are also required to assess and reduce the risks posed by unsuitable flooring and inadequate workplace layout. In practice, they must:
- Check floors for holes, cracks, loose finishes and other hazards.
- Ensure the flooring material is suitable and in good condition.
- Ensure that employees can move around safely.
- Recoat or replace flooring if it poses a risk of injury.
- Try to avoid changes of level and install ramps when possible.
- Use slip-resistant flooring and anti-slip tread nosing in areas where the risk of slips is high.
- Ensure that walkways are level, wide enough and located correctly.
- Make sure that the stairs are suitable and have usable handrails at the correct height.
Provide adequate training and raise awareness.
Employers have a duty to educate employees on how to perform their jobs safely and remind them of the hazards and dangers associated with their tasks. Being aware of the most common causes of slips, trips and falls at work is one of the most effective ways to prevent them. Employers should:
- Make new employees aware of workplace hazards from day one.
- Provide clear instructions and training regarding safe work practices.
- Ensure staff understand the importance of good housekeeping and how to maintain a tidy environment.
- Teach employees how to identify hazards and report them immediately.
- Provide guidance on how to use ladders, steps, stairs, scaffolding and PPE safely and correctly.
- Encourage employees to report accidents and near misses.
- Use visible signs to warn employees of changes in level, wet floors and other hazards.
- Regularly review training to reinforce safe behaviours and highlight any new risks.
Ensure employees have suitable footwear.
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 state that employers must provide suitable PPE, free of charge, to employees where risks cannot be controlled by other means.
This includes providing workers with appropriate slip-resistant footwear when floors are slippery, uneven, or when they are exposed to substances such as oil, water, or cleaning agents. Employers must:
- Assess workplace risks to determine if special protective footwear is required.
- Provide it at no cost to employees and ensure it fits correctly.
- Make sure the footwear is suitable for the task and the environment (that it has the correct type of sole and tread pattern).
- Check and replace footwear before it becomes worn and ineffective.
- Provide training and instruction on the proper use of PPE.
Other types of PPE can help prevent falls when working at heights, such as harnesses, lanyards, and lifelines.
Carry out regular inspections and maintenance.
Regular inspections and maintenance of the workplace are essential to identify and address hazards to prevent slips and trips. Employers must:
- Schedule routine inspections of floors, mats, stairs and lighting to check for damage, wear or other hazards.
- Base the frequency of inspections and maintenance on the level of risk in a specific area.
- When a hazard is identified, take immediate action to repair or remove it.
- Keep records of inspections and the corrective actions taken.
What can employees do for the prevention of slip, trip and fall accidents in the workplace?
To reduce your risk of slipping, tripping and falling as an employee, you should:
- Stay alert and pay attention to your surroundings.
- Follow your health and safety training and wear the appropriate footwear.
- Immediately report any spills, damaged flooring and other hazards.
- Practice good housekeeping and dispose of waste properly.
- Make wide turns at corners and adjust your pace to the environmental conditions.
- Always use the available light sources to see your surroundings clearly.
- Ensure that the task you are performing, such as carrying a load, does not prevent you from identifying and avoiding any potential hazards.
What should I do if I have a slip, trip or fall at work?
In the unfortunate event that you suffer a slip, trip or fall at work, there are a few steps you should take:
- Seek medical attention for your injuries.
- Report the accident to your employer and ensure it is recorded in the accident book.
- Collect evidence, such as photos of the hazard and contact details of witnesses.
If your injuries were caused by your employer’s breach of duty, you may be able to make a workplace accident claim for compensation.
Key takeaways
Preventing slips, trips, and falls should be a top priority, as these are the most common causes of injuries at work and can have serious consequences for both employees and employers.
Employers are responsible for assessing risks, implementing control measures and providing workers with the training, information and equipment they need to stay reasonably safe from harm. In turn, employees must protect their own safety by following established safety procedures and promptly reporting any hazards.
