LTB:HSE Slips and Trips Mapping Tool

[POSTMAN]

HSE Slips and Trips Mapping Tool - An aid for Safety Representatives (supports the 'Slips and Trips' campaign)

This new HSE leaflet is aimed at Safety Representatives, but may be useful to others. It supports the HSE campaign to reduce slips and trips in the workplace (a priority area for health and safety inspectors).Safety representatives can use Slips and trips mapping tool to involve members in identifying slips and trips problems and hazards in the workplace, using their knowledge and experience.

Slips and trips account for about a third of all reported major injuries.95%of those injuries involve fractures of arms, wrists and ankles. They are the most common hazard faced by union members.

Some safety representatives will have access to digital cameras, which can be used to photograph and record slips and trips problems in the workplace, but mapping offers a simple alternative to identify the problem.

How to use the mapping tool

Draw a sketch map of the area. The examples on page 2 show how the risk mapping tool works (the map does not need to be a work of art or even to scale, as long as it represents the workplace affected).
Mark all the slips and trips reported in the last 12 months (or any relevant period) with crosses on the map.
Talk to members to identify any 'near misses' and add them to the map.
Find out from members what is causing people to slip or trip in that area.
Any 'hotspots' will quickly show up on the map. Once you have identified the problems and their causes:

discuss them with management;
decide what action needs to be taken;
continue to monitor to ensure control measures put in place are working;
make sure improvements are communicated to members.
Slips and trips mapping can be used in any workplace or work area and can be a very effective tool in helping reduce injuries at work for your members.

Checklist for safety representatives

Health and safety inspectors focus on incidents where there is a significant risk of injury from a slip or trip. A safety representative, using the same approach, can decide whether there is a significant risk by:

looking at the work in progress and discussing other tasks, e.g. goods receipt and dispatch, maintenance, cleaning etc to identify where potential risks are/could be present;
spotting leaking plant or machinery with fluids accumulating on floors;
seeing the build-up of contamination on the floor, with no visible sign of containment or clean-up, e.g. brought in on footwear in wet weather;
noticing the use of ad hoc measures to control leaks, such as corrugated cardboard being put down or warning signs left in place for extended periods;
considering the age and construction of buildings, whether there is evidence of leaking roofs, walkways exposed to the elements and potential for water, mud etc, to be brought into the workroom on wet clothing, shoes or vehicles;
seeing cluttered walkways, build-up of waste materials, general untidiness, impeded pedestrian access, trailing cables etc;
talking to staff to identify 'difficult jobs ' or hearing about incidences of falls not leading to injury ('near misses ');
examining records for evidence of slip and trip problems in sickness absence, the accident book, RIDDOR reports etc.