Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Slips and trips
This initiative is now completed but the resources below may still be of use to you.
During 2007/8 fifteen one day events, aimed at universities, colleges and local education authorites, were held across the UK . Over 650 delegates attended and end of day feedback was excellent. Delegates were also provided with cascade materials to help share the information provided with colleagues back in their workplaces. We are very interested to hear of any success stories, so if you have introduced any changes to help reduce slips and trips since attending the event please tell us using contact us and quoting 'education'.
55% of all accidents in education are caused by a slip or a trip. Last year, almost 2000 major injury slip and trip accidents in the education sector were reported to us, 571 of which were to employees, a 5% rise on the previous year. 90% of major accidents resulted in a broken bone causing considerable personal distress and a significant amount of time away from work.
When taking action to prevent accidents, there is a tendency to focus on protecting and educating students, but staff and others in educational establishments are equally as important and have a major role to play in preventing slips and trips.
This initiative is primarily for those responsible for health and safety in higher and further education, and for local authority health and safety Advisers for schools. Others, for example teaching, catering and cleaning staff, will also have an interest. Please look at all the information on these web pages and bring then to the attention of your colleagues.