Reducing slips and trips in the Health Service

This page refers to a campaign that ran from 2005/05 to 06/07.

Last year, 54% of all reported major accidents in the health services were caused by a slip or a trip. If you compare that figure to the national average of 34%, it's clear why HSE is so concerned.

Why the campaign?

The human cost of slip and trip accidents is usually easy to see. But not always so apparent is the price the NHS pays, both as an organisation and as an employer. Treatment costs currently stand at £133m per year and with 90 per cent of major accidents resulting in a broken bone, the NHS also has the expense of long-term staff absences.

What is the Campaign about?

In an attempt to combat the ever increasing numbers of slip and trip related accidents in the health sector, HSE is running a two year campaign. Its aim is to galvanise you into taking action to tackle slip and trip issues in your workplace.

During the campaign Inspectors and other HSE staff will be visiting health care establishments to assess standards, offer advice and enforce applicable legislation.

In support of the campaign, publicity and poster packs have been produced, specifically aimed at health services employees. (See below for details on how to obtain packs).

We are also holding seminars around the country (see below) and have already helped stage successful events in Scotland and the Midlands.

The NHS guidance, HTM61 on Flooring, is being updated to take on board the latest information on preventing slips when fitting new floors. In Scotland, a new Safety Action Notice has been produced about smooth flooring and reducing the risk of pedestrian slip accidents. There are also a number of research projects underway such as 'Effective cleaning for reducing slips' and 'Cleaning contracts in the NHS'.

How to obtain Posters and Publicity Packs?

Publicity packs are now available either in electronic format or as a hard copy.

The hard copy includes guidance, a newsletter and two posters and can be ordered from HSE books[28] (quoting Misc 671D).There is only a limited stock available and you will be prevented from ordering in large quantities.

Alternatively, all the pack contents, except the posters, can be downloaded free of charge:

Link URLs in this page

  1. Slips and tripshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/index.htm
  2. The lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/law.htm
  3. Frequently asked questions https://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/faq.htm
  4. Overview - Are you a?https://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/are-you.htm
  5. Employerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/employers.htm
  6. Employeehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/workers.htm
  7. Architect or designerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/architects.htm
  8. Overview - Causes and preventionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/preventing.htm
  9. Overview - Contaminationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/cleancampaign.htm
  10. Cleaninghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/cleaning.htm
  11. Flooringhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/flooring.htm
  12. Overview - Footwearhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/footprocure.htm
  13. Supplying slip-resistant footwearhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/manufactfoot.htm
  14. Environmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/environment.htm
  15. People (human factors)https://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/human-factors.htm
  16. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/information.htm
  17. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/publications.htm
  18. Overview - Toolshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/tools.htm
  19. STEP eLearning packagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/step/index.htm
  20. Overview - Slips Assessment Tool (SAT)https://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/sat/index.htm
  21. Using SAThttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/sat/default.htm
  22. Research reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/research.htm
  23. Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/casestudies.htm
  24. Campaignshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/campaigns.htm
  25. Useful linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/links.htm
  26. Audio and videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/audiovideo.htm
  27. Subscribehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/ebulletin/index.htm
  28. HSE bookshttps://books.hse.gov.uk/
  29. Newsletterhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/assets/docs/healthservices.pdf
  30. INDG225 (rev1) Preventing slips and trips at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg225.pdf
  31. Assessing the slip resistance of flooringhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis2.htm
  32. CAIS6 (revised), Preventing slips and trips in kitchens and food servicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cais6.pdf
  33. Campaign posterhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/assets/docs/campaignposter.pdf
  34. The importance of floor cleaninghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/web/slips02.pdf
  35. Preventing slips and trips at work INDG 225(rev1)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg225.pdf
  36. Newsletterhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/assets/docs/healthservices.pdf
  37. HSE Bookshttps://books.hse.gov.uk/
  38. Risk managementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm
  39. CIRIAhttp://www.ciria.org.uk/
  40. Citizens advice bureauhttp://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

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2024-07-17