Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Avoid paying £thousands in compensation through better office maintenance
UK businesses need to take slips, trips and falls more seriously. Unfortunately, these types of accidents at work are an all too common occurrence and could be avoided.
To protect your employees from slips, trips and falls and side-step significant compensation claims, follow the advice from Unison, the Trade Union.
Unison is urging UK businesses to review the case of a 16-year old girl who slipped on water at work and sustained serious injury. Working in a commercial kitchen, the employee slipped on water, which had been leaking from an ice-making machine. Instinctively she put out her hand to break her fall. Her hand and forearm went into a deep fat fryer and she sustained severe burns.
Despite the accident taking place in 2009, the case is still being used to highlight the failures to provide effective training and supervision as well as ensure the workplace is free from hazards and if there are potential dangers, that there are measures in place to minimise any accidents.
The company did go on to review its management of wet and contaminated flooring but this did not heal the injuries sustained by the girl. The employer was convicted and fined £15,000.
Unison says the solution to preventing slips, trips and falls is often simple and cost effective. A health & safety assessment will help to identify those who may be at risk as well as outline preventive measures to reducing the risk of injuries at work. In fact, research has found that positive management within particular workplaces has been seen to successfully reduce injuries by over 66%.
Seeking the help of a professional cleaning company, providing your team with signage and putting down non-slip mats and matting can effectively prevent slips, trips and falls at work.
Mats4U specialise in providing UK businesses with cost effective and hardwearing indoor and outdoor matting solutions. For more information visit:
28th June 2018