Slips and trips in health and social care

Slips, trips and falls can have a serious impact on the lives of employees and those being cared for. They account for around half of all reported major injuries to employees. Some users of health or care services can be particularly vulnerable to falls injuries, and falls on the same level account for a significant number of injuries to service users - many of which are preventable.

Many factors can cause slips, trips and falls.  These include: methods of cleaning, flooring type, footwear, levels of lighting, contrast between floors, walls and doors, and obstructions or other trip hazards. The practical measures you can take will vary in different situations; some measures will reduce the risk to both workers and non-employees, whereas others may be more targeted.

These pages provide specific guidance on reducing the risks of slips, trips and falls in health and social care. For more general information on how to manage the risks for all industries, please see our slips and trips web pages.

• What you need to do
• Reducing the risk of falls on stairs
• Case studies
• Further information