Slips and trips are the cause of many injuries at work. However, effective solutions that are often simple and cheap can improve working conditions and productivity in the workplace.
This page explains how you can take simple precautions to prevent slips and trips in waste and recycling.
Floors and surfaces of traffic routes
The Workplace Regulations provide specific requirements to ensure the workplace is in good repair and effectively maintained, and defects are put right.
The Regulations requires that floors, or the surface of a traffic route (which includes pedestrian traffic), are kept free from conditions that might pose a risk to a person’s health and safety.
This applies equally to sites, such as household recycling or bring sites, where members of the public may be present.
Slips and trips in the fixed workplace (outdoor areas)
As rain, puddles, mud, ice and poor lighting increase the risk of accidents in outdoor areas, you should consider doing the following:
- eliminate the use of rough ground where this can reasonably be achieved. Some activities may be better moved to suitable concreted areas
- keep rough ground as level as possible. In some cases, regular levelling may be needed to remove ramps, areas of subsidence, deep vehicle wheel ruts etc. Pedestrian routes over rough ground should be suitably designated, marked and maintained
- improve drainage to remove standing water. Consider the benefits of laying chippings, treating foot paths in frosty weather and improving lighting
Preventing major causes of slips and trips
The following checklist provides possible solutions to some of the major causes of slips and trips at waste management sites.
Spillage of items and wet and dry substances
- Identify how to prevent spillages where possible
- Clear away spillages immediately and provide suitable materials (such as absorbent pellets for greasy liquids)
- If spillages are inevitable or floors may remain wet for some time (for example after cleaning), warn and divert pedestrians using barriers and signs
Waste mounds on floors (for example before loading into compactors or sorting)
- Restrict waste mounds to designated areas or contain them
- Close pedestrian routes or re-route them
- Change work systems to prevent employees walking on the mounds
Trailing cables, hoses etc
- Position electrical or water outlets to minimise the need for trailing cables and hoses
- Position equipment to avoid pedestrian routes
- Restrict pedestrian access
- Use suitable covers for pipes and cables
Office rugs, mats, lino, tiles etc
- Ensure they are securely fixed and have no curling edges
- Select suitable floor coverings, taking into account expected wear and tear
- Keep them in a good state of repair
Slippery surfaces
- Minimise pedestrian traffic
- Where possible, apply suitable floor treatments to minimise a slippery surface
Changes from wet to dry floor surface
- Provide doormats, foot-scrapers etc to prevent water or mud being walked onto dry floors
- Change footwear if necessary
- Warn of risks using signs
Poor lighting
- Improve lighting levels
- Replace fused bulbs
- Keep bulbs clean
Changes in floor level-slopes and steps
- Improve lighting levels
- Add high-visibility tread boards and floor markings
- Provide a handrail where appropriate
Unsuitable footwear
- Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations, employers are required to provide protective footwear free of charge for certain types of work
- Make employees are aware of your rules regarding wearing appropriate footwear and ensure they wear it
Find out more
HSE’s slips and trips website has more detailed advice.
Our guide on manual handling provides ideas on how to eliminate the need for carrying, which often causes people to lose their balance.